A second trimester abortion is an abortion that takes place during the second trimester of pregnancy. This trimester includes weeks 13 through 27. Generally, a second trimester abortion will be a surgical abortion, rather than one of the medical abortion options women in their first trimesters of pregnancy can sometimes choose. Abortions performed in the second trimester of pregnancy usually include dilation and curettage, dilation and evacuation, or induction abortions. As with all types of abortion, there are both medical and personal pros and cons of a second trimester abortion.
There are several different methods of abortion for second trimester pregnancies, but the two most commonly performed types are the dilation and curettage (D&C) and the dilation and evacuation (D&E). Generally, D&C procedures are performed in weeks 13 through 15, and D&E procedures are performed beyond that time frame. During a D&C, the physician inserts a scraping or suction instrument in the cervix and uterus to terminate the pregnancy. A D&E procedure is similar to a D&C, though because it takes place farther along in the second trimester, it usually also includes vacuum aspiration and surgical instruments such as forceps. Both D&C and D&E procedures are considered surgical abortions.
Although rare, another option for a second trimester abortion is the induction abortion. An induction abortion is a surgical abortion that involves one of three injections to induce labor. The physician might inject potassium chloride, saline, or urea in the amniotic sac or he might inject prostaglandins in the vagina. As a third option, the pregnant woman might receive an intravenous injection of pitocin. Typically, women who undergo induction abortions experience the same kinds of labor and delivery stages as do women who go through the regular birthing process.
The pros and cons of a second trimester abortion depend on two factors. These are the pregnant woman’s personal situation and the medical and surgical considerations. Some would argue the pros of an abortion during the second trimester include the availability, as each woman’s life circumstances are different and not all pregnancies can be terminated as early as the first trimester. At the same time, the cons of a second trimester abortion might include a riskier and more invasive procedure that can’t be performed medically by taking an abortion pill or having an herbal abortion. In the end, the pregnant woman, her physician, and her personal position determine the exact pros and cons of a second trimester abortion.