Menstrual extraction

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Menstrual extraction is both a surgical abortion method and a menstrual hygiene technique, by which either an entire menstrual period may be removed in a few minutes, or a blastocyst or small embryo--without confirmation of pregnancy. It is almost identical to manual vacuum aspiration--in which uterine contents are removed through the cervix via manual suction and a canula to terminate unwanted pregnancy--but differs slightly in technical configuration, and greatly in historical, political, and legal use. It was developed by lay people specifically to evade laws prohibiting abortion, and is still used for that purpose.

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[edit] Early development

In 1971, two members of a feminist women's reproductive health self-help group, Lorraine Rothman and Carol Downer, modified the equipment used for manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) at medical clinics. They assembled soft Karman canulas, syringes, one-way valves, and collection jars and learned to operate them to perform menstrual extractions, in order to provide access to abortion for women before Roe v. Wade.[1][2] The device developed by Rothman and Downer is called a "Del Em." It differs in technical construction from MVA because uterine contents pass through a canula into a tube, and then into a collection jar, instead of going directly into a syringe. This is believed to make the procedure more comfortable for women, who also control the suction with a Del Em.[3] Licensed medical providers sometimes call MVA menstrual extraction, even when they are not using a Del Em. [4]

To differentiate their practice from abortion, Downer and Rothman called it menstrual extraction, or "ME." According to the National Women's Health Network, "the early self helpers advocated that women join self-help groups and practice extracting each other's menses around the time of their expected periods. If a pregnancy happened to be present, it would be extracted along with the contents of the uterus." They toured the country introducing menstrual extraction to other women's groups, and the practice became quite popular; an estimated 20,000 procedures were performed.[3]

Police raided Downer and Rothman's Self Help Clinic in 1971, but the only evidence of criminal activity found was a container of yogurt used for vaginal yeast infections. Downer was arrested for practicing medicine without a license for using the yogurt, and the yogurt was taken into evidence. In December 1972, she was acquitted by a jury. The raid, arrest, and trial were referred to in the women's self-help movement as "the Great Yogurt Conspiracy."[1]

[edit] Use following legalisation of abortion

After the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision made abortion legal in 1973, menstrual extraction was practiced far less. Then in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the technique was widely discussed in the mainstream press again when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, which limited access to abortion for some women by state of residence and type of medical insurance. Self helpers even reprised the 1971 tour, travelling around the U.S. sharing self examination and menstrual extraction techniques with groups of women. The New York Times called menstrual extraction a "low-budget, low-tech version of the suction method practiced in medical clinics."[5] Time Magazine observed that "the premise behind menstrual extraction is that a home abortion provided by concerned friends is better than one carried out in some surgical speakeasy."[6] Today, some women in the U.S. still use menstrual extraction.[7]

[edit] Use outside the United States

In other countries, menstrual extraction is referred to as "menstrual regulation." According to the National Abortion Federation, "in the developing world, menstrual regulation is still a crucial strategy to circumvent anti-abortion laws." Although abortion is illegal in Bangladesh, the government has long supported a network of menstrual regulation clinics.[8][9] It is estimated that 468,000 menstrual regulaions are performed each year in Bangladesh. [10] NAF also reports "some other countries allow menstrual regulation because it presumably takes place without a technical verification of pregnancy." [11] It is claimed such countries include Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Vietnam. [12] In Cuba, where abortion is legal, menstrual regulation is widely practiced--every woman whose period is two weeks late is offered menstrual extraction, without a pregnancy test. [13]

[edit] References

  • Janice Cortese (1996). Menstrual Extraction. - includes picture of Del-Em
  • Rebecca Chalker and Carol Downer. A Woman's Book of Choices: Abortion, Menstrual Extraction, RU-486.. Seven Stories Press. ISBN 1888363282.
  • Karen J. Carlson, Stephanie A. Eisenstat, Terra Ziporyn (2004). “Abortion - How are first trimester abortions performed?”, The New Harvard Guide to Health (PDF extract), p6. ISBN 0-674-01282-8 (cloth), ISBN 0-674-01343-3 (pbk). - (see 16th page into the document)
  • "Unofficial Abortion", Time Magazine, September 11, 1972.
  • Emin-Tunc, Tanfer (Summer 2004). "Into Our Own Hands: The Women's Health Movement in the United States, 1969-1990". NWSA Journal, Indiana University Press (2): 237-239.
  • "No Going Back" (1988) Federation of Feminist Women's Health Centers - Video which presents menstrual extraction as an abortion method that can be used by women in self-help health groups.
  • Ninia Baehr (1990). Abortion without Apology: A Radical History for the 1990s.. Boston: South End Press, p21.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Cindy Pearson (March/April 1996). Self-Help Clinic Celebrates 25 Years. National Women's Health Network Newsletter. Retrieved on 2006-09-07.
  2. ^ Susan Brownmiller (January 21, 1998). This Precious Right: A Veteran of the Abortion Struggle Looks Back. Village Voice. Retrieved on 2006-09-07.
  3. ^ a b Rebecca Chalker (1993). The Whats, Whys, and Hows of Menstrual Extraction (PDF). On the Issues.
  4. ^ Rodney W, Quan M, Felmar E (1980). "Termination of pregnancy by menstrual extraction.". J Fam Pract 11 (6): 955-8. PMID 7452159.
  5. ^ LeAnne Schreiber (June 17, 1993). What Kind of Abortions Do We Want?. New York Times.
  6. ^ Richard Layco (cover story, May 4, 1992). Abortion: The Future is Already Here. Time Magazine. Retrieved on 2006-09-04.
  7. ^ Laureli (2005). Suction Yer Own Cunt. Slingshot. Retrieved on 2006-09-05.
  8. ^ Bergum, SE (1993). "Saving lives with menstrual regulation". Plan Parent Chall, International Planned Parenthood Newsletter (1): 30-1. PMID 12345324.
  9. ^ Amin, R et al (1988). "Menstrual regulation in Bangladesh: an evaluation of training and service programs". International Journal of gynecology and obstetrics 2 (27): 265-71. PMID 2903095.
  10. ^ Incidence of Abortion Worldwide. International Family Planning Perspectives, Guttmacher Institute (1999). Retrieved on 2006-09-17.
  11. ^ C Joffe (1999). “Abortion in Historical Perspective”, Paul M, Lichtenberg ES, Borgatta L, Grimes DA, Stubblefield PG (Eds): A Clinician's Guide to Medical and Surgical Abortion (Reprint by National Abortion Federation), Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone.
  12. ^ Abortion for All: How the International Planned Parenthood Federation promotes abortion around the world - IPPF's Illegal Activities. lifeissues.net (2000).
  13. ^ Hans Veeken (1995). Letter from Cuba: plenty of care, few condoms, no corruption. Retrieved on 2006-09-17.
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