When is intact dilation and extraction used

Prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection. Insert a speculum into the vagina, to hold it open. The physician cleans the vagina and cervix with an antiseptic solution. At this time, a numbing agent local anesthetic may be injected in the cervix.

Insert osmotic dilators small tubes that absorb moisture from the tissues surrounding the cervix and swell approximately 2 or more days before the surgical procedure to open the cervix, allowing access to the uterus. Misoprostol may also be given several hours before surgery.

This medicine can help soften the cervix. Inject medicine through the abdomen or vagina into the amniotic fluid or the heart of the fetus. Once you are asleep, your legs are placed in supports and the doctor examines your uterus womb.

A speculum is inserted into your vagina. The opening of your cervix may be stretched with thin rods called dilators. The pregnancy is removed using narrow forceps passed through the neck of the womb.

A tube is then inserted through the cervix and a suction machine is used to gently complete the evacuation. You won't feel any pain during the procedure, which takes about minutes from start to finish. You will wake in the recovery area and be observed for about hours before going home.

Read more about your anaesthetic here. DO NOT drive for 24 hours after a general anaesthetic. If you are 23 weeks pregnant or more, it is necessary to administer an injection into the fetus to stop the heartbeat before the abortion takes place.

These may require transfer to hospital or surgical procedures, and may have serious long-term health effects. Home Contact Us. Book an appointment Call Find a clinic. Book appointment. Toggle main menu. They may help relieve cramping pain. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Call your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms after an abortion:.

Call your doctor for an appointment if you have had any of these symptoms after a recent abortion:. Dilation and evacuation is a safe and effective method. It has become the standard treatment of care in the United States for an abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy. Risks are higher for surgical abortions done in the second trimester of pregnancy than for those done in the first trimester, particularly if they are done after 16 weeks of pregnancy.

A repeat vacuum aspiration and medicine to stop bleeding are used to treat retained products of conception or blood clots. An abortion is unlikely to affect your fertility, so it is possible to become pregnant in the weeks right after the procedure. Avoid sexual intercourse until your body has fully recovered, for at least 1 week or as advised by your doctor. When you do start having intercourse again, use birth control, and use condoms to prevent infection.

Counseling for a second-trimester abortion may be more involved than for an early abortion because of the length of the pregnancy and the reason for the abortion. Should you have continuing emotional reactions after an abortion, seek counseling from a grief counselor or other licensed mental health professional. Depression can be triggered when pregnancy hormones change after an abortion.

If you have more than 2 weeks of symptoms of depression, such as fatigue, sleep or appetite change, or feelings of sadness, emptiness, anxiety, or irritability, see your doctor about treatment. The hospital or surgery center may send you instructions on how to get ready for your surgery or a nurse may call you with instructions before your surgery. If you have an abortion in an outpatient center and there is a complication, you may be taken to a hospital. Right after surgery, you will be taken to a recovery area where nurses will care for and observe you.

You will probably stay in the recovery area for a period of time and then you will go home. In addition to any special instructions from your doctor, your nurse will explain information to help you in your recovery. You will go home with a page of care instructions including who to contact if a problem arises. Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.

Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Dictionary Entries Near dilation and extraction dilation and curettage dilation and extraction dilative See More Nearby Entries. Statistics for dilation and extraction Look-up Popularity. Style: MLA. Medical Definition of dilation and extraction. Get Word of the Day daily email! Test Your Vocabulary. Test your vocabulary with our question quiz! Love words? Need even more definitions?