Medical Abortion:

Description: A medical abortion is ending a pregnancy via pills and/ or injection. A medical abortion is split up into two phases. In phase one, the actual abortion takes place, which is either through an injection (methotrexate) or a pill (mifepristone or RU-486). In phase two, is the actual clearing away of the fetus' remains. This is done by misoprostol, which can be taken either in pill form or in a suppository. This causes the uterus to contract and eject the fetus remains.

Advantages:

  Can be done up to 49 days after the last period.

  Is more personal and private.

  Some women feel relieved after an abortion.

Disadvantages:

  If the medical abortion does not work, a surgical abortion
      will be needed.

  This method takes longer than a surgical abortion.

  Some women may feel guilty after an abortion.

Effectiveness:

  95 % of medical abortions are successful.

Time Constraints:

  Can only be done in the first 49 days of the pregnancy.

Location:

  A health clinic.

  A personal doctor.

Cost:

  A medical abortion costs between $350 and $575.

Surgical Abortion:

Description: The halt of a pregnancy via surgery and removal of the fetus from the uterus. There are two three types of surgical abortion which all depend upon the stage at which the fetus is at. The first type is manual vacuum aspiration or MVA which is done up to 10 weeks after last period. The second type is dilation and suction curettage, which is done from 6-14 weeks after last period. The third type is dilation and evacuation or D&A, which is done after 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Advantages:

  Can be done quickly and easily with little to
      no scarring.

  The risk of dying during a surgical abortion is ten
      times less than dying during childbirth.

  Many women feel relieved after an abortion.

Disadvantages:

  May experience cramping and bleeding.

  Early surgical abortion involves entering the uterus.

  It may be hard to find a clinician to perform
      an abortion.

  It may be very expensive.

  It may be hard to accept the termination of
      a pregnancy.

Effectiveness:

  Each year, there are about 1.5 million abortions
      done in the United States. More than half of abortions
      are done by mothers who used contraception.

Time Constraints:

  A surgical abortion can be done up to 24 weeks
      after last period.

Location:

  A health clinic.

  A hospital.

Cost:

  A medical abortion cost ranges from $225-$575,
      however, is generally more in a hospital.