What is abortion

abortion n, 1. (induced abortion, termina¬tion of pregnancy) the removal of an em¬bryo or fetus from the uterus at a stage of pregnancy when it is deemed incapable of independent survival (i.e. at any time be¬tween conception and the 24th week of pregnancy]. One of the most commonly performed gynaecological procedures in the UK, it must be carried out within the terms of the Abortion Act 1967 and the subse¬quent Abortion Regulations 1991. Two doc¬tors must agree that termination of pregnancy is necessaiy for one of the rea¬sons specified in the Regulations, which sometimes allow termination beyond the legal age of viability (24 weeks) in special circumstances (e.g. substantial risk of dis¬ability in the child if born). The procedure must be carried out in an approved hospital or clinic. Drugs used for medically induced abortion include *mifepristone and prostaglandin analogues (e.g. *gemeprost). Surgical methods of termination of preg¬nancy include vacuum aspiration of the products of conception through an intra-uterine cannula, "dilatation and curettage, and uterine evacuation by ovum forceps. Termination carries little risk early in preg¬nancy, but complications (e.g. bleeding, in¬fection) are more likely to occur after the 13th week of pregnancy. 2. (spontaneous abortion) see MISCARRIAGE.