The free end of the tube is connected to a hand-held syringe that provides suction as the doctor pulls on it. Therefore, make sure that you go to the doctor for a follow-up examination after a couple of weeks to ensure that your uterus has been fully emptied. This procedure involves dilating the cervix after which the doctor positions a plastic tube through the dilated cervix and attaches its free end to an electric suction pump. The process of emptying the uterine cavity takes barely three to five minutes. A method of diagnosing and treating pelvic problems, it is also used in the termination of pregnancy.
Dilatation is the widening of the cervix using progressively wider metal rods.
Curettage refers to the insertion of a spoon-shaped instrument, called a curette, in order to scrape out the tissue that lines the uterine cavity. This procedure for the termination of pregnancy is opted for between 13 and 16 weeks of pregnancy. If the pregnancy has to be terminated after 16 weeks, doctors will use a method called instillation abortion to terminate the pregnancy. In this procedure, the women goes through actual labour, but delivers a foetus with no life. Labour pains will begin within a few hours and delivery of the foetus occurs between eight and seventy two hours.