Menstrual Extraction: This is a very early suction abortion, often done before the pregnancy test is positive
RU-486 (Abortion Pill, Mifepristone, Mifeprex): For non-surgical abortions in pregnancies up to 9 weeks from conception. Mifepristone or RU486 acts to block the effects of progesterone to maintain the uterine lining. As the progesterone signal is cut off in the uterus, the uterine blood vessel lining begins to breakdown and subsequently the embryo dies. The uterus may then try to expel the embryo and its surrounding tissues. But, using RU486 alone results in only about a 60-65% success rate. Therefore many doctors give a second very drug (prostaglandin), which causes strong uterine contractions to expel the dead embryo. Using the dual drug system, the success rate rises to 84 to 95%. In small cases, 5 to 15% of patients, the patient is required to undergo a surgical procedure called a dilation and curettage (D&C) to remove any remaining embryonic tissue. In some reports, the women report discharging the embryo into the toilet under great pain due in part to the powerful uterine contractions. The RU 486 procedure requires at least three trips to the abortion facility. Long-term effects of the drug have not yet been sufficiently studied.
Suction-Aspiration: In this method, the abortionist must first paralyze the cervical muscle ring (womb opening) and then stretch it open. This is difficult because it is hard or "green" and not ready to open. He then inserts a hollow plastic tube, which has a knife-like edge on the tip, into the uterus. The suction is 29 times more powerful than a home vacuum cleaner.
Dilation & Curettage (D&C): This is similar to the suction procedure except that the abortionist inserts a curette, a loop-shaped steel knife, up into the uterus.
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E): Dilation is done similarly to other methods, and then a pliers-like instrument is used to complete the procedure. There is no anesthetic for the baby.
It is reported"MacKay et al., "Safety of Local vs General Anesthesia for Second Trimester D&E Abortions" OB-GYN, vol. 66, no. 5, Nov.1985, p. 661" that every year about 100,000 women are aborted by the D&E method, between 13 and 24 weeks gestation. Of this, 500 have "serious complications." This was still judged to have a "lower risk of morbidity and mortality than the infusion procedures.
Intracardiac Injections: Since the advent of fertility drugs, multi-fetal pregnancies have become common. "The frequency of triplet and higher pregnancies ... has increased 200% since the early 1970s."Since these are usually born prematurely and some have other problems, a new method has been developed.
At about 4 months a needle is inserted through the mother's abdomen, into the chest and heart of one of the fetal babies and a poison injected to kill him or her. This is "pregnancy reduction." It is done to reduce the number or in the instance of discovery of a handicap. If successful, the dead baby's body is absorbed. Sometimes, however, this method results in the loss of all of the babies.
Dilation and Extraction (D & X) a.k.a. Partial Birth Abortion: A more recently developed method here is the partial birth abortion, also called "brain suction" or "D&X" methods.
This is like a breech delivery. The entire infant is delivered (feet first) except the head. A scissors is jammed into the base of the skull. A tube is inserted into the skull, and the brain is sucked out. The now-dead infant is pulled out.
Quotes regarding Partial-Birth Abortion:
"There are no medical circumstances in which a partial-birth abortion is the only safe alternative."
Dr. Pamela Smith, Director of Medical Education, Dept. of Ob-Gyn at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago, has stated: "There are absolutely no obstetrical situations encountered in this country which would require partial- birth abortion to preserve the life or health of the mother." And she adds two more risks: cervical incompetence in subsequent pregnancies caused by three days of forceful dilation of the cervix, and uterine rupture caused by rotating the fetus in the womb.
Joseph DeCook, Fellow, Am. Col., Ob/Gyn, founder of PHACT, stated: "There is no literature that testifies to the safety of partial birth abortions. It's a maverick procedure devised by maverick doctors who wish to deliver a dead fetus. Such abortions could lead to infection causing sterility." Also, "Drawing out the baby in breech position is a very dangerous procedure and could tear the uterus. Such a ruptured uterus could cause the mother to bleed to death in ten minutes."..."The puncturing of the child's skull produces bone shards that could puncture the uterus." (Congressman Charles Canady (R-FL), 7/23).
Information obtained from afterabortion.com. 2005