Abortion - surgicalDefinition: A surgical abortion is a
procedure that ends a pregnancy by removing the fetus and
placenta from the mother's womb (uterus). There are different
types of surgical abortion. Sometimes the woman needs the
procedure for a health reason. This is called a therapeutic
abortion. Other times, she chooses (elects) to end the
pregnancy. This is called an elective abortion. Suction
curettage; Surgical abortion; Elective abortion - surgical;
Therapeutic abortion - surgical A surgical abortion uses a
vacuum to remove the fetus and related material from a woman's
uterus (womb). The procedure is usually done after 6 weeks of
the woman's last menstrual period You may receive medicine
(sedative) to help you relax and feel sleepy. The doctor may
numb the cervix so you feel little pain during the procedure. If
the surgical abortion is done after 12 weeks of pregnancy, the
doctor must first open (dilate) the cervical canal. Small sticks
called laminaria are placed into the cervix to help it open. S