Vacuum Aspiration and IPAS Syringe

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGE IN THIS POST. YOUNG CHILDREN SHOULD NOT READ FURTHER.

Today, I'm going to talk about two abortive procedures done today. I will talk about other methods in other posts. The two I'm going to cover today are the Vacuum Aspiration and IPAS Syringe methods for performing abortions.

Vacuum Aspiration is done by numbing the cervix and inserting a soft, flexible tube into the uterus and sucking the baby from the womb.[1] The suction is very powerful as it must pull the baby and the placenta off of the uterus wall and then cut them into small enough pieces to pass through the tubing.[2]

The IPAS Syringe method is very similar to the Vacuum Aspiration, but instead of using a machine to create suction, a syringe is used.

Both of these procedures take about five minutes to complete and are used up to the 13^th week (in the first trimester) of the pregnancy.
[1] Feminist Women’s Health Center
<http://www.fwhc.org/abortion/ab-procedures.htm>
(accessed 18 October 2007)

[2]Tennessee Right to Life

<http://www.tennesseerighttolife.org/human_life_issues/human_life_issues_abortion_methods.htm>

(accessed 21 October 2007)