Medical Termination of Pregnancy

Termination of pregnancy has been practiced since antiquity. Although many societies accept this practice, some reject it, and it is sometimes even considered a crime. The most widely used methods for terminating pregnancy early in the first trimester are surgical, primarily vacuum aspiration, which is safer and less painful than dilation and curettage. An estimated 26 million pregnancies are terminated legally each year throughout the world, and 20 million are terminated illegally, with more than 78,000 deaths.1 A safe medical method would save many lives.In the United States, where abortion is legal and is performed by trained personnel, the . . .