Suction Aspiration or Vacuum Aspiration

Quick Facts

• Gestational Age: 6-12 weeks after last menstrual period
• Cost: $600-$1000

Procedure

• Patient lies on her back with feet in stirrups and a speculum is inserted to open the vagina.
• A local anesthetic is administered to her cervix. Then, a tenaculum (a slender sharp pointed hook attached to a handle, mainly used in surgery for seizing and holding parts) is used to hold the cervix in place for the cervix to be dilated by cone shaped rods.
• When the cervix is wide enough, a cannula (a long plastic tube connected to a suction device) is inserted into the uterus to suction out the baby and placenta.
• The procedure usually lasts 10-15 minutes, but recovery may require staying at the clinic for a few hours.

Risks and Side Effects

• Cramping, nausea, sweating, and feeling faint.
• Less frequent side effects include possible heavy or prolonged bleeding, blood clots, damage to the cervix and perforation of the uterus.
• Infection due to retained remains of the baby and related tissues, an STD, or bacteria being introduced to the uterus, can cause fever, pain, abdominal tenderness, scarring, infertility and in some cases, death.

Fetal Development  Weeks 9-12

The following describes some of the developmental steps of the baby during the time frame when a woman is eligible for a vacuum abortion.

• Upper lip, teeth, fingers and ears begin to form
• Toes and genitals are forming
• Baby can make a fist
• Baby has permanent fingerprints
• Baby starts to produce urine
• All organs are functioning by week 12