There are many types of abortion procedures (for pregnancy termination).

RU486

Performed within 4-7 weeks
Fetal development
Cost: $450
How it works
How it feels

Manual Vacuum

Performed within 7 weeks
Fetal development
Cost: $600-$5,000+
How it works
How it feels

D & C

Performed within 6-14 weeks
Fetal development
Cost: $600-$5,000+
How it works
How it feels

D & E

Performed within 13-14 weeks
Fetal development
Cost: $600-$5,000+
How it works
How it feels

D & X

From 20 weeks
Fetal development
Cost: $600-$5,000+
How it works
How it feels

Risks and side effects

All of these procedures carry physical risks and side effects.

Learn about the emotional effects.

RU486, Mifepristone: within 4 to 7 weeks

Also known as the Abortion Pill, this medical abortion is used for women who are within 30 to 49 days after their last menstrual period. This procedure usually requires three office visits. The RU 486 or mifepristone pills are given to the woman who returns two days later for a second medication called misprostol. The first pill depletes the lining of the uterus. This prevents the progesterone from working and cuts off the blood supply to the baby, causing it to suffocate to death. The second pill induces labor and causes her to deliver her little baby. A third visit is then required to be sure the baby and uterine contents are completely gone. If not, a surgical abortion as the ones described below would need to be done. A surgical abortion is necessary 10% of the time following RU486.
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What it feels like
After the second pill there is a lot of intense cramping and bleeding accompanied by nausea and sometimes vomiting. These feelings can be overwhelming and are intense until the completion of the baby being delivered. She is at home, in a private setting, alone, not at the doctor's office. She has the potential of seeing the baby, with arms and legs, after the abortion is complete. Bleeding continues for up to six weeks with the potential of cramping.
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Manual Vacuum Aspiration: within 7 weeks

This surgical abortion is done early in the pregnancy up until 7 weeks after the woman's last menstrual period. The cervical muscle is stretched with dilators (metal rods) until the opening is wide enough to allow the abortion instruments to pass into the uterus. A hand held syringe is attached to tubing that is inserted into the uterus and the baby is torn from the uterine wall and suctioned out into a collection bottle.
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What it feels like
The procedure is explained and consent forms are signed. She may be awake or given some sort of medicine to make her drowsy. The doctor performs the painful procedure. She is given medications to prevent infection. She is left with cramping, bleeding and overwhelming emotional feelings.
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Dilation and Curettage (D&C): within 6 to 14 weeks

In this procedure, the doctor opens the cervix with a dilator (a metal rod) or laminaria (thin sticks derived from plants and inserted several hours before the procedure). The doctor inserts a loop-shaped steel knife into the uterus and connects the tubing of a suction machine. The knife cuts the baby’s body into pieces and the suction pulls the parts out of the uterus. The placenta is also scraped off the uterine wall with the knife.
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What it feels like
She may be awake or given medication to make her drowsy. As the doctor performs the painful procedure, she may feel pressure in her lower abdomen. Throughout the procedure she will hear the noise from the powerful suction machine used. Following the procedure she is left with bleeding for up to six weeks, cramping in her abdomen for weeks and overwhelming emotional feelings.
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Dilation and Evacuation (D&E): within 13 to 24 weeks

This surgical abortion is done during the second trimester of pregnancy. Because the developing fetus doubles in size between the eleventh and twelfth weeks of pregnancy, the body of the fetus is too large to be broken up by suction and will not pass through the suction tubing. In this procedure, the cervix must be opened wider than in a first trimester abortion. This is done by inserting laminaria a day or two before the abortion. After opening the cervix, the doctor twists and tears away parts of the baby with forceps. This continues until the entire baby is removed from the womb. The baby’s head needs to be crushed so it can be removed. The bones in the skull are so hard that they could cut the cervix upon removal.
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What it feels like
She may be awake or given medication to make her drowsy. As the doctor performs the procedure which has been described as, very painful, she could be aware of everything that is going on. She may see some of the parts of the baby as they are removed. She is left with bleeding, cramping and emotional feelings.
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Dilation and Extraction (D&X): from 20 weeks

Also known as Partial-birth Abortion, this procedure takes three days. During the first two days, the cervix is dilated and medication is given for cramping. On the third day, the woman receives medication to start labor. After labor begins, the abortion doctor uses ultrasound to locate the baby's legs. Grasping a leg with forceps, the doctor delivers the baby up to the baby's head. At this point, the baby is alive. And in most cases, the baby is able to survive outside the mother’s womb at the age of 23 weeks. Next, scissors are inserted into the base of the skull and the scissors blades are spread apart to create an opening. A suction catheter is placed into the opening and the brain is sucked out. The skull collapses and the baby is removed.
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What it feels like
The woman goes into labor to deliver her baby. The doctor reaches into her uterus with forceps and grabs the baby. The baby is mostly delivered when the brains are sucked out. She feels and hears everything that is going on. She can catch a glimpse of the baby that was inside her. She is left with a six-week recovery period, if not longer. This period includes bleeding, cramping and extreme emotions.
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First Trimester - Weeks 1-12

Week 1 & 2 - LMP and conception
Week 3 - Baby attaqches itself to the uterus
Week 4 - Nervous brain and spinal cord are developing
Week 5 - Heart begins to beat
Week 6 - Menstrual period is missed, usual time a urine pregnancy test will be positive
Week 7 - Facial features are visible, hands and feet are forming
Week 8 - Baby is 1/2 an inch long, fingers visible, toes beginning to form
Week 9 - Toes and genitals are forming
Week 11 - Baby starts to produce urine

Second Trimester - Weeks 13-24

Week 13 - Baby's footprints and fingerprints are developed
Week 14 - Hair is growing on the head and all over his body
Week 16 - Baby is 4.5 inches long and weighs 3.5 ounces (the size of a fist)
Week 19 - Baby's brain is developing, especially the areas for hearing, seeing, touching and tasting
Week 20 - HALF WAY!!
Week 21 - Baby can hear you in you read or sing to him
Week 22 - Teeth begin to bud under the gums
Week 23 - Baby weighs about 1 pound and can swallow
Week 24 -

Third Trimester - Weeks 25-40

Week 25 - Baby is making breathing movements
Week 26 - Eyes begin to open
Week 28 - Fat layers are forming, getting ready for life outside the womb
Week 30 - Baby is gaining weight rapidly and is a little over 15 inches long
Week 31 - Baby turns head from side to side
Week 32 -
Week 35 - Baby's movements slow down related to small space to move
Week 37 - Pregnancy considered full-term
Week 40 - Birth of baby, 5% are born on their due date (average size is 7.5 pounds and 20.5 inches in length)