Overview
An abortion procedure occurs when an in-clinic procedure is used to end a pregnancy. Two of the most well-known methods are vacuum aspiration and Dilation and Evacuation (D&E). Vacuum aspiration is used up to 14-16 weeks of pregnancy and is the most common abortion procedure during the first trimester. D&E can be used for abortions occurring after 16 weeks of pregnancy, which are uncommon. This procedure is also used outside of abortion care as a treatment for miscarriages. Generally, abortion procedures can take 5-10 minutes to complete and are done under the supervision of medical providers. For some abortion seekers, it may be necessary to have an abortion procedure instead of a medication abortion because of underlying health disorders like bleeding or clotting conditions.
For information about abortion procedures, see below.