Surgical Abortion

Under local anaesthesia

You will receive local anaesthesia of the cervix; which will feel like 2 or 3 small pricks. (The cervix is the entrance of the uterus and placed at the end of the vagina.) As soon as the anaesthesia starts working, the gynecologist will gently dilate the cervix a couple of millimeters in order to insert a small plastic tube into the uterus. The pregnancy and the uterine mucous membrane are removed by aspiration via this tube. At the end an ultrasound image is made in order to ensure that the uterus is empty. The procedure only takes a couple of minutes in all. Brief cramps similar to menstruation cramps, may follow immediately after the treatment. These result from the uterus contracting as it is now empty. Usually they abate quickly.

Bleeding after a surgical abortion is usually less than a normal menstruation. However it can be irregular. For example no bleeding for the first 1-2 days is frequent.

The surgical procedure is brief and causes only little pain if performed correctly. The procedure is done by a doctor, yet you can observe all of it. Therefore you may be able to review misconceptions about the procedure.

Under general anaesthesia

On the treatment chair you will be given an anaesthetic into your vein by an anaesthetist, which will make you fall asleep. During the aneasthesia the gynecologist will gently dilate the cervix a couple of millimeters in order to insert a small plastic tube into the uterus. The pregnancy and the uterine mucous membrane are removed by aspiration via this tube. The procedure only takes a couple of minutes in all and involves almost no pain. At the end an ultrasound image is made to ensure that the uterus is empty. Then the treatment is over and the anesthetist will let you wake up from the anesthesia.

Bleeding after a surgical abortion is usually less than a normal menstruation. However it can be irregular. For example no bleeding for the first 1-2 days is frequent.
You surrender the control over your body for a short time. When you wake up all is over.

Comparison of surgical and medical abortion

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