Abortion is the ending of a pregnancy before the fetus can survive outside the uterus. The term covers two distinct events: induced abortion, where a pregnancy is intentionally ended through medication or a procedure, and spontaneous abortion, the medical term for a miscarriage. When most people search “what is abortion,” they’re asking about induced abortion, so that’s the focus here.
In the United States, induced abortion is one of the most common medical procedures. It can be performed for a wide range of reasons, from personal circumstances to serious medical necessity, and it takes two main forms: medication-based and procedural.
Medication Abortion
Medication abortion uses two drugs, taken in sequence, to end an early pregnancy. It’s typically available through 10 to 12 weeks of gestation and accounts for the majority of abortions in the U.S.
The first drug blocks progesterone, the hormone that maintains the uterine lining and supports a pregnancy. Without progesterone, the lining begins to break down. The drug also triggers the body to release natural compounds called prostaglandins, which cause the uterus to contract. A second medication, taken 24 to 48 hours later, intensifies those contractions and helps the uterus empty completely.
The experience is similar to a heavy, crampy period. Bleeding and cramping typically begin within a few hours of the second medication and can be more intense than a normal period, especially in the first several hours. Complete abortion rates for medication abortion range from roughly 90% to 95% at 8 to 9 weeks of gestation, and around 78% to 91% at later gestational ages in the first trimester. When the medication doesn’t fully work, a follow-up procedure is needed to complete the process.
Procedural Abortion
Procedural abortion (sometimes called surgical abortion) involves a clinician emptying the uterus using gentle suction, sometimes combined with other instruments. The most common version, vacuum aspiration, is used through roughly 14 to 16 weeks of pregnancy. For pregnancies beyond that point, a more involved procedure called dilation and evacuation is used.
Vacuum aspiration itself typically takes 5 to 10 minutes. The cervix is gradually opened, a thin tube is inserted into the uterus, and suction removes the pregnancy tissue. Most people receive local anesthesia to numb the cervix, and many clinics offer sedation as well. The procedure has a very high success rate and rarely requires a second visit.
Why People Have Abortions
People seek abortions for many reasons. Some are medical: a pregnancy that poses a serious risk to the mother’s health, or a fetal diagnosis that means the pregnancy is not viable. Therapeutic termination of pregnancy is the formal term for an abortion performed because of medical necessity, whether to prevent substantial physical harm to the mother or in cases where the fetus cannot survive.
Most abortions, however, are chosen for personal, financial, or social reasons. Common factors include not being in a position to raise a child, already having children and lacking resources for another, being in an unstable relationship, or wanting to complete education or career goals. Many people cite several overlapping reasons rather than a single one.
Safety Profile
When performed according to current medical guidelines, abortion is approximately 14 times safer than childbirth. Complications occur in about 2% of cases in the United States, and only about one in four of those complications requires any further medical intervention or hospitalization. The mortality rate from legal abortion in the U.S. was 0.8 deaths per 100,000 procedures as of 2022, making it one of the lowest-risk procedures in medicine.
Risk increases with gestational age. Abortions performed in the first trimester carry the lowest complication rates, which is one reason early access matters from a medical standpoint. The most common complications are incomplete abortion (where some tissue remains), infection, and heavy bleeding, all of which are treatable.
What Happens Beforehand
Before an abortion, a clinician reviews your medical history, including previous pregnancies, chronic health conditions, current medications, and allergies. A pregnancy test confirms the pregnancy if it hasn’t been confirmed already. An ultrasound or pelvic exam determines how far along the pregnancy is, which dictates which methods are available.
Blood typing is performed when possible, because people with Rh-negative blood may need an injection to prevent complications in future pregnancies. Screening for infections or anemia may also be done based on individual risk factors. The visit typically includes a conversation about contraception options for afterward.
Recovery and What to Expect After
Bleeding after an abortion normally continues for up to two weeks, though it varies depending on how far along the pregnancy was. It generally feels like a period. Cramping and abdominal pain are common for two to three days and gradually lessen. Most people return to their normal activities within a day or two, though some prefer to take it easy for a few days, especially after a medication abortion where the cramping can be more drawn out.
Fertility returns quickly. You can become pregnant from unprotected sex as soon as five days after an abortion, so contraception matters immediately if you want to avoid another pregnancy. It’s recommended to wait until bleeding stops before having sex again, since the risk of infection is slightly higher during that window.
A follow-up appointment, usually one to two weeks later, confirms that the abortion is complete. For medication abortion this is especially important, since incomplete abortion is more common than with a procedural approach. Some clinics handle follow-up through a phone call and a home pregnancy test rather than an in-person visit.
Spontaneous Abortion (Miscarriage)
In medical terminology, “abortion” also refers to miscarriage. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now recommends the terms “miscarriage” or “intrauterine pregnancy loss” instead of “spontaneous abortion” to reduce confusion and emotional distress. Both terms describe the natural loss of a nonviable intrauterine pregnancy. Early pregnancy loss, the most common type, occurs before 10 to 13 weeks of gestation. Miscarriage is extremely common, affecting an estimated 10% to 20% of known pregnancies, and in many cases happens before a person even realizes they’re pregnant.