Two pills are taken within 72 hours, two more pills within another 12 hours

Suppresses or delays ovulation, stops fertilized egg from implanting

Used within 4 - 7 weeks after last menstrual period

Usually requires 3 office visits

Two medications:  mifepristone, and then misprostol two days later

Thins the lining of the uterus, shuts off the blood supply to the fetus, and induces labor to expel the fetus

short-term:  incomplete abortion (requires another procedure), hemorrhage (sudden, severe bleeding),  infection, heart attack, death

long-term:  increased risk of miscarriage or birth defects in future pregnancies, sleep disturbances, future inability to conceive (possibly total sterility), mental and psychological problems

Used within 7 weeks after last menstrual period

Metal rods are used to stretch the cervical muscle

The fetus is suctioned out through a tube

short-term:  clotting, cramping, hemorrhage (sudden, severe bleeding), incomplete abortion, perforated uterus, infection, bladder of bowel injury, death

long-term:  chronic infection, ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, higher risk (30-40%) of future miscarriage or premature birth, increased risk of future birth defects, future labor complications, hysterectomy, sterility (unable to conceive), cervical cancer, breast cancer, hepatitis, mental and psychological problems

Used within 6 to 14 weeks after last menstrual period

Metal rods or laminaria (thin stick from a plant) are used to stretch the cervical muscle

The suction machine and tubing pulls the fetus' body apart and out

All parts of the fetus must be accounted for

Variation:  a loop-shaped knife (called a curette) may be used to scrape out fetal parts

short-term:  clotting, cramping, hemorrhage (sudden, severe bleeding), incomplete abortion, perforated uterus, infection, bladder of bowel injury, cervical laceration, death

long-term:  chronic infection, ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, higher risk of future miscarriage or premature birth, increased risk of future birth defects, future labor complications, hysterectomy, sterility (unable to conceive), cervical cancer, breast cancer, hepatitis, mental and psychological problems

Used within 13 to 24 weeks after last menstrual period (second trimester)

Laminaria is inserted a day or two before the abortion (the cervix needs to be opened wider)

Fetal parts are pulled out with forceps

The fetus' skull is crushed to ease removal

short-term:  clotting, cramping, hemorrhage (sudden, severe bleeding), incomplete abortion, perforated uterus, infection, bladder of bowel injury, cervical laceration, death

long-term:   chronic infection, ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, higher risk of future miscarriage or premature birth, increased risk of future birth defects, future labor complications, hysterectomy, sterility (unable to conceive), cervical cancer, breast cancer, hepatitis, mental and psychological problems

Used from 20 weeks after last menstrual period up until full-term

First two days - cervix is dilated

Third day - medication is given to start labor

After labor is started, the doctor delivers the baby, legs first, up to the baby's skull

Scissors are inserted into the base of the skull to make an opening

The skull's contents are suctioned out

The skull collapses and the baby is removed

short-term:  clotting, cramping, hemorrhage (sudden, severe bleeding), incomplete abortion, perforated uterus, infection, bladder of bowel injury, cervical laceration, death

long-term:  chronic infection, ectopic (tubal) pregnancy, higher risk of future miscarriage or premature birth, increased risk of future birth defects, future labor complications, hysterectomy, sterility (unable to conceive), cervical cancer, breast cancer, hepatitis, mental and psychological problems