Understanding Options for Early Pregnancy Termination

Medical abortion. A medical abortion can be performed up to 10 weeks of pregnancy and is sometimes called the “abortion pill”. Medical abortion involves taking two medications to end the pregnancy. The first medication, mifeprex, blocks the hormone progesterone, which is needed to maintain the pregnancy. The second medication, misoprostol, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy tissue.

Surgical abortion. A surgical abortion is a procedure that is performed by a doctor or nurse practitioner to end a pregnancy. There are two types of surgical abortions: vacuum aspiration and dilation and evacuation (D&E). Vacuum aspiration is performed up to 15 weeks of pregnancy and involves using a suction device to remove the pregnancy tissue from the uterus. D&E is performed after 15 weeks of pregnancy and involves using a combination of suction and surgical instruments to remove the pregnancy tissue from the uterus.