Abortions done in the 13th through the 24th week of pregnancy are called second trimester abortions. They are more difficult for the doctor to do and they can cause more problems for the person having the abortion. If someone decides to get an abortion in the second trimester of pregnancy, she needs to find a doctor who is very experienced in late abortions. She could ask her health professional to recommend someone, or she could go to a hospital clinic or call a woman's clinic to find such a doctor. An experienced doctor can perform a suction abortion up to the 18th or 20th week of pregnancy or later.
Many doctors recommend procedures other than a suction abortion for second trimester abortions. One method is to give the pregnant girl or woman a special medication to cause contractions of the uterus, so the pregnancy will be forced out.
