Definition

Noun: A medical procedure for terminating a pregnancy, performed during the first trimester (typically before the 14th week of gestation). It involves the removal of the embryo or fetus and the placenta from the uterus by applying a vacuum (suction) through a tube inserted into the dilated cervix.

Usage

This term is used specifically in medical and clinical contexts to describe a common method of early abortion. - The patient opted for suction curettage. - Suction curettage is generally considered a safe and effective procedure when performed by a trained professional.

Advanced Usage

• As a compound medical noun: The term functions as a single, specific medical concept. It is often used in technical literature, medical guidelines, and patient counseling.
• Contextual Note: The procedure is also commonly referred to by other specific medical terms such as "vacuum aspiration" or "suction aspiration," though "suction curettage" precisely denotes the combination of suction and the gentle scraping (curettage) action.

Variants and Related Words

• Vacuum Aspiration (n): A synonymous term for the same procedure.
• Dilation and Curettage (D&C) (n): A broader gynecological procedure that may involve scraping (curettage) of the uterine lining, not always for abortion and not always using suction.
• Curettage (n): The general surgical scraping or cleaning of a body cavity, such as the uterus.

Synonyms

• Vacuum aspiration
• Suction aspiration
• Surgical abortion (first-trimester)

Related Phrases

• To perform a suction curettage: The action of carrying out the procedure.
  • The doctor will perform a suction curettage tomorrow.
• To undergo suction curettage: The experience of the patient receiving the procedure.
  • She underwent suction curettage at the clinic.

Noun

1. a method of induced abortion; prior to the 14th week of gestation the embryo and placenta are removed by applying suction to the dilated cervix