Patient Services: Surgical Abortion Overview
Surgical abortion services are available at Planned Parenthood of Indiana for individuals who have chosen to end their pregnancy up to 13 weeks 6 days from the first day of their last menstrual period (LMP), which is the first trimester. In the state of Indiana, second trimester abortions must be performed in a surgery center or hospital. Surgical abortions fail to end a pregnancy 1 out of 500 times, making it a very effective method.
Women obtaining an abortion in the state of Indiana must receive mandated information at least 18 hours prior to their abortion. This information must be provided in person. For more information about this requirement, contact us at (800) 230-PLAN.
The surgical procedure takes about 7 minutes, but you should expect to be in the clinic anywhere from 4-6 hours. During the procedure, the vagina is washed with an antiseptic. Usually, a local anesthetic is injected into or near the cervix. Injectable painkillers or local anesthesia can also be used for an additional fee. The opening of the cervix is gradually stretched. After the opening is stretched, a tube attached to a suction machine is inserted into the uterus. The suction machine is turned on and the uterus is gently emptied. To be sure that the uterus has been completely emptied, after the suction tube has been removed, a curette (narrow metal loop) may be used to gently scrape the walls of the uterus. Suction curettage takes about 7 minutes.
A woman cannot choose the surgical abortion if she...
- Is more than 13 weeks 6 days pregnant
- Is unable to tolerate an abortion procedure under local anesthesia and/or available sedation options
- Has any medical condition judged to be so severe that the procedure would pose significant or life-threatening risks
- Has any condition that would invalidate her informed consent
Minors (under 18 years of age) must have parental consent from at least one parent. Minors unable to obtain parental consent or minors in extreme circumstances may seek a Judicial Bypass from their local court. For more information about Judicial Bypass, contact a local attorney or the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana.
Additional Surgical Abortion Information
Preparing for Your Appointment
Preparing Emotionally for Your Appoinment
