The most common types of abortion in the United States today are:

• Suction-Aspiration--the body parts and placenta are removed with a suction machine (very early pregnancy).
• Dilation and Curettage (D&C)—the vaginal area is dilated (enlarged), then an instrument is used to cut the body parts and detach the placenta, then the parts and placenta are removed with a suction machine.
• Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)—much like the D&C procedure, but after three months of pregnancy when the baby is larger, and it takes more than one appointment to complete.
• Dilation and Extraction (D&X)—also known as Partial Birth Abortion.  The baby is moved and “delivered” feet first, then when the head is ready to be delivered, the abortionist makes an incision at the base of the neck and uses suction to remove brain parts and the head is removed.