Table 1.

Safe abortion types.

1st trimester: Medication (Induction)	- Regimens: Mifepristone 200 mg plus misoprostol 800 mcg or misoprostol only - Typically used up to 11 weeks gestational age - Vaginal bleeding begins 1–4 hours after medication administration, with pregnancy expulsion occurs 3–8 hours after medication administration - Side effects can include abdominal cramping, vaginal bleeding, brief low-grade fever, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea - Efficacy approximates 95–98% - Higher complication rate due to risk of failure and retained tissue
1st trimester: Uterine aspiration	- Procedure includes dilation of the cervix, insertion of a cannula into the uterine cavity, and aspiration of uterine contents - Cervical ripening agent (e.g., misoprostol) can be used - Used up to 14 weeks gestation - Efficacy approximates 99% - Typically requires local anesthesia and/or sedation
2nd trimester: Medication (Induction)	- Regimens: misoprostol (most common), mifepristone, misoprostol and mifepristone, oxytocin, carboprost, sulprostone - Allows for expulsion of intact fetus - Higher risk of complications compared to interventional measures, including hemorrhage and retained products - Approximately 8–10% of cases require intervention for further removal - May require 24 hours or longer before pregnancy expulsion is completed
2nd trimester: Dilation and evacuation	- Account for the majority of second-trimester abortions - Short procedure time (<30 minutes once cervix is dilated) - Higher efficacy rates compared to second-trimester medical abortions - Risk of uterine perforation - Prophylactic antibiotics are administered

mg, milligram; mcg, microgram.