Surgical
Abortion

SURGICAL ABORTION
Every woman should be fully informed before making a decision to terminate
At Genesis, we have witnessed firsthand for many years, the devastation that can result when information about abortion procedures or fetal development is learned after the event. This is your body, your pregnancy and your future. Accurate information is the safest way to come to your decision. Avoidance will not remove the reality of the experience afterwards so it is best faced now before your choice is made.
1st Trimester: up to 12 weeks gestation
- Commonly known as Vacuum Aspiration or Suction Termination of Pregnancy. [VTOP, STOP or D&C(T)]
- It can be performed from 5 weeks although doctors prefer the pregnancy to be at least 7-9 weeks so that the complete expulsion of the fetus is more easily discerned.
- It can be done under a general anaesthetic, nitrous oxide, or a local anaesthesia either injected directly into the cervix or intravenously.
- The cervix is dilated by a series of rods of progressively larger sizes being inserted.
- A tube with suction applied is then introduced through the cervix into the uterus and the fetus and placenta are suctioned out.
- The lining of the uterus is then scraped (curettage) to ensure that all the contents have been removed.
- All parts of the fetus and placenta must then be visually examined and accounted for to avoid any possible risk of infection from unremoved tissue.
Relevant fetal development (www.medicinenet.com)
2nd Trimester : 13-27 weeks gestation
Dilation and Evacuation: D&E
As gestation increases and the fetus grows larger in size, greater dilation of the cervix is needed. This is achieved using Misoprostol which softens and dilates the cervix to allow for larger surgical instruments.
From 15-16wks onwards an osmotic dilator (seaweed product) call Laminaria is inserted into the cervix for further dilation. This may take two days.
When adequate dilation is achieved:
- A suction catheter is used to remove the amniotic fluid
- If the fetus is too large to remove intact, grasping forceps are inserted used to remove the fetus via dismemberment.
- All body parts are accounted for to avoid infection
- The uterus is scraped to ensure that no tissue remains
Relevant fetal development (www.medicinenet.com)
Intact Dilation & Extraction : D&X
A variant of dilation and evacuation can be performed when sufficient cervical dilation is present. In these cases,
- the fetus is delivered via breech extraction.
- If the fetus is not in the breech presentation, internal manipulation may be used to adjust the position.
- after delivery of the body, the fetal head will become lodged in the cervix.
- Decompression of the skull is performed with suction to complete the abortion.
This procedure is illegal in the United States. It is not illegal in Australia.
There is no published data regarding the frequency or complication rate of this procedure.
Late Term Abortion
From 20wks to 40wks (now legal throughout Australia)
Day 1
- The cervix is first dilated with several doses of Misoprostol.
- Potassium chloride is injected into the heart, brain or umbilical cord to stop the heartbeat (this step is not always included depending on gestation).
- Laminaria (a seaweed product and osmotic dilator) is inserted into the cervix.
- The woman goes home with a vaginal pack in place.
Day 2
- Further dose/s of Misoprostol are given.
- A general anaesthetic is administered and, if adequate dilation of the cervix has been achieved, grasping forceps are used to remove the fetus and placenta.
- As the fetus is larger at this stage of the pregnancy and is not usually able to be removed intact, it is removed in pieces.
- At later stages ( >23 weeks) labour is induced by intravenous drip using synthetic oxytocin and the fetus is delivered stillborn.
Intact Dilation & Extraction : D&X
A variant of dilation and evacuation can be performed when sufficient cervical dilation is present. In these cases,
- the fetus is delivered via breech extraction.
- If the fetus is not in the breech presentation, internal manipulation may be used to adjust the position.
- after delivery of the body, the fetal head will become lodged in the cervix.
- Decompression of the skull is performed with suction to complete the abortion.
This procedure is illegal in the United States. It is not illegal in Australia.
There is no published data regarding the frequency or complication rate of this procedure.
We know this can be such a difficult decision to make
If you have any questions or need to take these difficult emotions through
CALL 1300 139 313
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