What Happens During an Abortion?

November 19, 2004 1:56 PM

I'm working on a play during which a young woman gets an abortion. Can anyone give me the breakdown of what actually happens during an abortion... Are you sedated? Are your legs in stirrups? (Not looking for political rhetoric, just clinical details...) Thanks.
posted by adrober to health & fitness (11 comments total)

I could only find info about abortions via the "abortion pill," which sort of makes me think it's only for first trimester abortions.

http://earlyoptions.org/w_guide.html
posted by glyphlet at 2:12 PM on November 19, 2004

Our Bodies, OurSelves has a very good description of the process...http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/
posted by yodelingisfun at 2:13 PM on November 19, 2004

One of the more interesting sensations during abortion is that of being scraped. The sound of a "clean" uterus, free of remaining debris that would make the woman possibly go septic, is a sound that's almost metallic. It's not a fun sound, but it might work for your context.
posted by u.n. owen at 2:26 PM on November 19, 2004

Oh, and I'm only talking about the most common type of abortion, a D&C. For others...like the D&X ("partial birth") procedure, ask me privately. it's not pretty, but it is sometimes medically necessary - I just don't like putting yuck details in a public forum.
posted by u.n. owen at 2:34 PM on November 19, 2004

This is a livejournal community called Abortion Stories. It might help with what you're looking for.
posted by sugarfish at 2:37 PM on November 19, 2004

Pervious answers may be helpful.
posted by dobbs at 3:19 PM on November 19, 2004

Um, previous. Not pervious.
posted by dobbs at 3:19 PM on November 19, 2004

If by sedation you mean does one get knocked out entirely, it depends on whether the patient can afford it. Local anesthesia is the cheaper option, which is akin to a novocaine shot to the os. It costs more money to get an IV that renders one unconscious for the procedure.
posted by goofyfoot at 9:30 PM on November 19, 2004

Thanks everyone. This really helped. I'll comp all your tickets when the play comes out :)
posted by adrober at 9:28 AM on November 20, 2004

If by sedation you mean does one get knocked out entirely, it depends on whether the patient can afford it.

I think how late in the pregnancy the abortion happens also plays a part.
posted by biffa at 3:49 PM on November 20, 2004

Yeah, one would have to get knocked out for an abortion after the first trimester, but that's a less basic surgical procedure, and much rarer. I understood adrober to be asking about abortions as most people go thru them. Money makes a difference there.
posted by goofyfoot at 6:40 PM on November 20, 2004