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In vacuum aspiration, a doctor uses gentle suction to remove the contents of the uterus. There are two methods of vacuum (or suction) aspiration.
Vacuum aspiration is a minor medical procedure. A normal recovery includes:
After the procedure:
You can get pregnant in the weeks after an abortion. If you don't want to get pregnant, talk to your doctor about birth control options.
Vacuum aspiration can be done in the first trimester to end a pregnancy. It may also be done to empty the uterus after:
Vacuum aspiration is a common type of surgical abortion. It is usually effective. In rare cases, the procedure doesn't end a pregnancy. This is more likely to happen during the earliest weeks of pregnancy.
Vacuum aspiration rarely causes any problems. Possible problems include:
Current as of: August 2, 2022
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Sarah Marshall MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Rebecca H. Allen MD, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology & Kirtly Jones MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology & Heather Quinn MD - Family Medicine
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