An abortion is the removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus, resulting in or caused by its death. This can occur spontaneously as a miscarriage or be artificially induced by medical, surgical or other means. "Abortion" can refer to an induced procedure at any point during human pregnancy; it is sometimes medically defined as either miscarriage or induced termination before the point of viability. Sadly to say there are times when we have to lose a life to save a life when a decision is made to terminate a pregnancy. An early termination is known as an abortion. There are people who strongly oppose abortions but unfortunately when it is a matter of life or death then there is no argument to fight.

Abortion ends a pregnancy before birth. It occurs naturally in 15-40 percent of all established pregnancies - when an embryo or fetus stops developing and the body expels it. This is called spontaneous abortion, miscarriage, or early pregnancy loss. Women choose abortion in less than 25 percent of the 6,000,000 pregnancies that are diagnosed in the U.S. every year - 50 percent of which are unintended. This is called induced abortion.

When is the procedure done?

Most places will only do a medical abortion using methotrexate and misoprostol up to seven weeks from the start of your last period. Where the mifepristone and misoprostol combination is available, it may be used slightly longer, up to nine weeks after your last period.

General instructions

Always check with your clinic, but general instructions before undergoing an abortion include:

* Don't eat, drink or smoke for six hours before the operation.

* Allow for at least two hours at the clinic.

* Bring sanitary pads, your referral letter, blood group card, Medicare card and any health care card.

* Arrange for someone to drive you home.

Can abortion lead to infertility?

Inflammation of the Fallopian tubes and ovaries caused by the Chlamydia organism is the most common cause of infertility following an abortion. Examination for Chlamydia is now routine in most hospitals and clinics and, if necessary, the patient will be treated before the abortion is carried out.

Private abortions

You can contact a private abortion clinic without being referred by a doctor. However, the NHS will not pay for this, and before the abortion can take place, the agreement of two doctors is still required. The clinic will make the arrangements. Costs for abortions in private clinics vary, and will depend on:

* which organisation, or company, carries out the abortion,

* the stage of pregnancy (earlier abortions are usually less expensive),

* whether an overnight stay is needed, and

* the method of abortion that is used.

If you are considering an abortion, it is important to talk to somebody about it as soon as possible.