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Making Abortion Safe Best practice in abortion care
March 2022>>
14–24 weeks of pregnancy
Surgical abortion between 14 and 24 weeks can be performed using dilatation and evacuation (D&E).
D&E requires preparation of the cervix using osmotic dilators or pharmacological agents, and evacuating the uterus using long forceps and vacuum aspiration with cannulas. It is the safest and most effective surgical technique after 14 weeks, as long as skilled, experienced providers are available.
Vacuum aspiration can be used up to 15–16 weeks of pregnancy with larger bore suction tubing and cannulas up to 16mm in diameter.
Dilatation and sharp curettage (D&C) is an obsolete method of surgical abortion and should not be used.