Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy, resulting in the removal of the embryo or fetus from the uterus. It can be done through various methods, including medication or surgical procedures. The definition of abortion can be further categorized into:
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Spontaneous abortion: Also known as a miscarriage, this is the natural and unintentional expulsion of a human fetus during the first 12 weeks of gestation.
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Induced abortion: A purposeful termination of pregnancy, which can be performed for various reasons, such as preserving the life or well-being of the mother, preventing the completion of a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, preventing the birth of a child with serious deformity or genetic abnormality, or preventing a birth for social or economic reasons.
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Medical abortion: A non-surgical method that uses medication to end a pregnancy. It is typically performed within the first 10 weeks of gestation and can be safely self-managed by the pregnant person outside of a healthcare facility, in whole or in part.
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Surgical abortion: A procedure to remove the pregnancy from the uterus. This method is usually performed after 10 weeks of gestation and may involve techniques such as suction aspiration, dilation and curettage (D&C), or dilation and evacuation (D&E).
