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Abortion is the ending of a pregnancy before birth. Early in a pregnancy, the fertilized egg that grows and develops is called an embryo. After three months of development, it is usually called a fetus. An abortion causes the embryo or fetus to die. In a spontaneous abortion, also called a miscarriage, the fetus passes from the woman's body. Spontaneous abortions may result from such natural causes as an abnormality in the embryo, a hormonal …

…called dilation and evacuation, or simply D and E. In this method, the fetus is taken apart in the uterus and removed. Another method involves adding a salt solution to the amniotic fluid, the liquid that surrounds the fetus. The fetus then dies and passes from the woman's body. A second-trimester abortion also may be performed by adding hormonelike drugs called prostaglandins to the amniotic fluid. The drugs cause muscle contractions that expel the fetus.