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| 1st and 2nd Trimester Abortions |  It has been estimated that approximately 90% of abortions are performed in the first trimester of pregnancy, and about 9% are done in the second trimester. If an abortion has been settled as a finally decision, then it is best to perform it early in pregnancy, in order to avoid possible complications.
Many women prefer Emergency Contraception, also called the Morning after Pill, to more dangerous abortion surgical procedure. This drug is taken very soon after unprotected intercourse in the off chance that they might otherwise become pregnant. If taken without delay, this pill will stop ovulation and conception; therefore pregnancy cannot happen. Some other women wait for two weeks or so and use a home pregnancy equipment to settle on if they are pregnant. They can then choose non-surgical, medically induced abortions including RU-486, or Manual Vacuum Aspiration.
The option is to wait until she gets the 6 week point in pregnancy and then decide on a surgical abortion. Mainly physicians are unwilling to do surgical abortions earlier than the 6th week of pregnancy for the reason that the embryo is too small. A few physicians will agree to perform abortions during the 5th week of gestation.
The selection of a surgical abortion technique depends chiefly on the stage of the pregnancy:
 Suction Curettage (Vacuum Aspiration): This technique is used at early stages of pregnancy. The cervix is widened with a number of instruments. A tube is put into the uterus and connected to a strong vacuum. The embryo is removed by suction.
Dilation and Curettage (D & C): As a rule this technique is used later in the first trimester. It is the same technique that is usually used after miscarriages. The cervix is dilated. An instrument with a sharp loop at the end is inserted into the uterus. The inside wall of the uterus is scraped; the lining and the embryo is removed by suction.
Dilation and Evacuation (D & E): This is a less commonly used method, but is the favored option for most of the 9% of abortions that are performed in the second trimester. A material made from seaweed (laminaria) is put in the cervix in order to dilate it. Forceps are then used to take out the fetus, in pieces.
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