1st Trimester

2nd Trimester  

3rd Trimester 

Psychological Risks  

Abortion Procedures

Abortion is a very controversial issue, but, through education and better understanding of the facts, we can make more informed decisions concerning abortion and pregnancy.

Second Trimester procedure (13-24 weeks)

1. Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) - At this point in pregnancy, the pre-born's body is too large to be broken up by suction and it will not pass through the suction tubing. The *cervix must be more dilated (opened) than in a first-trimester abortion. This is usually accomplished by inserting *laminaria a day or two before the abortion. The physician then dilates the cervix and dismembers the body by crushing the skull and spine to facilitate removal.

 2. Saline, Prostaglandin, and Urea instillation - These methods, more common during the 1970s and 1980s, are rarely used now, according to the centers for Disease Control (CDC), which reported that they accounted for only 0.7% or approximately 11,200 of all reported abortions in 1991.


What are the physical risks of a second trimester surgical abortion?

Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)

  • Retained tissue, including the placenta.
  • Uterine perforation, possibly resulting in severe pain and blood loss, this may require major surgery, including hysterectomy.
  • Cervical laceration, perforation, heavy bleeding (hemorrhage), and infection.
  • Infection

*cervix - the opening to the uterus or womb.
*laminaria - a porous material which expands with moisture in order to open and soften the   cervix.

Getting accurate statistics on abortion complications and death rates is difficult. Reporting on abortions is strictly voluntary in most states.