This abortion method requires greater cervical dilation than all other surgical abortion procedures. The cervix is dilated slowly over several days until it reaches 2-5cm.
Procedural protocols increase the cost of an abortion.
- Wondering how much you should be expect to pay? Go to How Much Does an Abortion Cost.
Intact D&E Abortion: Step by Step
Intact D&Es are completed in two steps:
1. Dilation Stage — (2–3 days before the procedure)
Consent Forms and Payment: By law, abortion is a free choice and may only be performed after receiving written consent from the woman.
- Go to Coerced Abortion if you feel pressured into having an abortion.
Bloodwork and Ultrasound: Blood is drawn to determine the patient's Rh factor and blood type for possible blood transfusions. Women who are Rh-negative will be given a RhoGam injection.
A pre-abortion ultrasound reveals the week of pregnancy and identifies the position of the fetus and placenta.Feticide: A medicine may be injected through the woman's abdomen or vagin* to cause fetal death and soften its bones. This is a mandatory step in compliance with the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act in the US.
Antibiotics: A single dose of oral antibiotics is administered as a precaution against infection.
Dilation: The cervix is softened and gradually dilated (opened) over two or more days using osmotic dilators. Seaweed stalks (laminaria) or hydrogel rods are used for this purpose as they slowly expand by absorbing the moisture in the woman's cervix. After the placement of the dilators, the woman usually leaves the clinic until the day of her procedure.
Many women experience these two days as emotionally exhausting. Going through this stage can feel alienating leading to emotional numbness and loneliness.
2. Intact Evacuation Stage (2–3 days later)
Medicinal Dilation: Misoprostol (Cytotec®) may be given several hours before surgery to complete cervical ripening.
Removal of Dilators: The osmotic dilators are removed from the cervix.
Ultrasound: An ultrasound is performed to confirm the absence of a fetal heartbeat and locate the position of the fetus.
Anesthesia: Intact D&Es are typically performed using a local anesthetic injected into the cervix and intravenous conscious sedation. Medication that slows uterine bleeding is also administered to reduce blood loss.
- Are you looking for information about options for sedation or anesthesia? Go to What Type of Anesthesia?
Removal of Fetus and Placenta: The doctor uses a speculum to open the woman's vagin*, making her cervix visible. A tube is inserted into her uterus, by which all amniotic fluid is suctioned out. Using extraction forceps, the surgeon then grasps one or both legs of the fetus and pulls them out of the cervix until the head is lodged inside the uterus.
A hole is made in the base of the skull, and the brain is suctioned out. This decompression causes the head to collapse, making it possible for the fetus to pass through the cervix, otherwise intact. Next, the placenta is removed.After the intact extraction, suction and curettage ensure a complete abortion, which is then confirmed by ultrasound.
Recovery Room: Immediately after the procedure, the patient will be observed until deemed fit for discharge. A follow-up appointment is scheduled, and a partner, friend, or family member will need to drive the patient home.
What to Expect After an Intact D&E
Side Effects
After an intact D&E, the uterus may bleed for up to two weeks. Cramping may continue for several weeks, reducing the uterus to its pre-pregnancy size. Breasts may swell, hurt, and leak colostrum.
⚠️ Menstruation should resume after four to eight weeks, but conception is possible before your first period.
Things to Avoid
Since the cervix stays slightly open for three to four weeks, it is essential to refrain from the following activities to avoid infection:
- sexual intercourse
- tampons
- swimming pools/bathtubs
- sauna visits
Potential Risks of an Intact D&E
Before the procedure, the surgeon will provide information on the possible risks of an intact D&E abortion. Approximately 5% of women encounter complications such as cervical laceration, uterine perforation, infection, extramural delivery (delivery due to dilation before the surgery), and hemorrhage.
ℹ️ For more information, go to Risks and Side Effects of Abortion.
Apart from considering the physical risks, the possible emotional repercussions need to be taken into account. Slowing down the decision-making process to evaluate whether this is the right path for you is essential for your emotional well-being. In counseling, we regularly encounter women who struggle with their choice after having had an abortion. If you still feel unsure, take a step back until you feel certain.
- Will abortion affect me long term? Take the Test
Reasons for an Intact D&E Abortion
The reasons women pursue an intact D&E abortion are as unique as their lived experiences.
Your doctor may have recommended an intact D&E as the risk of cervical lacerations and retention of fetal tissue is reduced compared to a dilation and evacuation abortion. However, the overall percentage of complications is identical.
Perhaps you have received the heartbreaking news of congenital anomalies and are wondering whether to have an abortion that leaves the body intact for a post-abortion autopsy.
- Use our Fetal Defect Abortion Test to guide you in the decision-making process.
Maybe you are encountering a severe medical issue that is putting your life or health at risk and are hoping for closure by being able to view the remains.
- Use the information provided in Abortion for the Health of the Mother as you determine your next steps.
Perhaps you just found out you were pregnant or could not get an appointment sooner because of finances or abortion restrictions. You may be thinking about having the procedure done in another state or country.
- Traveling to Get an Abortion
Or maybe an unexpected crisis in your relationship is causing you to doubt whether to go through with the pregnancy.
- How to Respond if He Does Not Want the Baby — Test
Where Do I Go from Here?
While our goal is to provide helpful information, your questions most likely go beyond the scope of which method to choose.
Your concerns matter because you matter!
We care because you matter!
