Surgical abortion is a procedure for terminating a pregnancy through the removal of the foetus from the woman’s womb or uterus. In Singapore, surgical abortion is a legal and effective procedure that can be performed within 24 weeks of pregnancy, or later but only if the woman’s life is at risk. Most doctors prefer surgical abortion for a number of reasons, including:
- High Success & Safety Rate
Surgical abortion has a much higher success rate compared to medical abortion as it is performed by a trained surgeon specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology. This procedure is also conducted in a well-equipped medical facility accredited by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to ensure that the abortion is carried out safely and effectively.
- Faster and More Efficient
In most cases, a surgical abortion procedure usually takes a few minutes and requires only one visit to the doctor’s clinic. This way, women are able to return home immediately following the procedure and return to most normal activities within a few days.
- Minimal Risk of Complications
Surgical abortion is carried out under local anaesthesia, so there is no pain felt. This is unlike a medical abortion, which results in heavy bleeding and cramping to expel the pregnancy.
Complications following a surgical abortion are rare in experienced hands, but may include infection and failure to evacuate the pregnancy contents completely.
Nonetheless, doctors will ultimately recommend an appropriate abortion method based on the woman’s medical history, stage of pregnancy, and individual preferences.
