Spontaneous, herbal, and induced are the three general abortion methods. Although not as popular or necessary in this modern era, there is also a method known as self-inflicted abortion. Most people do not consider self-abortion to be one of the main methods.
In a self-inflicted abortion, a sharp object, such as a hanger, is inserted into the cervix of the expectant mother. This method is known to be extremely dangerous or deadly and is not at all reliable.
One of the oldest abortion methods is herbal abortion, which is also not considered very safe. The result of herbal abortion is sometimes just a sick pregnant woman. It is not much different from the worst self-inflicted abortion. For hundreds of years, various herbs have been used to carry out herbal abortion. These herbs are usually silphium, birthwort, black cohosh, pennyroyal, tansy, etc. of which some are now extinct. It also includes modern herbs that some people use daily, such as juniper, lavender, parsley, thyme, marjoram, and dill. These herbs are called abortifacient or simply herbs that can cause an abortion.
However, surgical methods are the most widely used abortion methods these days. The doctor can initiate one of three surgical procedures to initiate the abortion at an early stage. The three surgical procedures that are followed for abortion are:
1) Manual Vacuum Aspiration or MVA: In the MVA method, a syringe is used to suck out the tissue causing the abortion.
2) EVA or Electric Vacuum Aspiration: In an EVA method, an electric pump is used to suck up the tissue.
3) Dilation and Curettage or D&C- Once the cervix of the pregnant woman has been opened, a sharp curette is used to clean the walls of the uterus.
4) Dilation and Evacuation or D&E- In this method, the uterus is cleaned through the use of instruments and suction once the cervix of the pregnant woman has been opened.
5) Hysterectomy abortion: Hysterectomy abortion is related to cesarean section to terminate a pregnancy.
6) The controversial intact dilation and removal or IDX-IDX is also known as partial birth abortion. In this method, the cervix is targeted by using forceps to grasp and rotate the fetus in the breech position. The fetus is then removed and only the head of the fetus remains inside the cervix. The head then collapses from the suction of brain matter from the skull. This is done through the small incision made at the base of the skull. IDX or Partial Birth Abortion is an abortion method prohibited under the Partial Birth Abortion Prohibition Act. This law was passed by Congress and came into force when President George W. Bush signed it in 2003. But this law does not provide any information in cases where abortion is necessary for the health of the woman and therefore , is examined by the Supreme Court of the United States to determine its legal validity.
7) Chemical methods: the combination of drugs can effectively interrupt or end the pregnancy. Drugs such as mifepristone or methotrexate are used for abortion followed by prostaglandin. Prostaglandin comes in two types, and its use depends on where the abortion is performed. Gemeprost is used in Sweden, UK, while in the US Misoprostol is commonly used for abortion.
