abortion is an instance of cause of death.

abortion is a subclass of medical procedure type.

abortion is a subclass of pregnancy with abortive outcome.

abortion is a subclass of feticide.

abortion is a subclass of renunciation.

Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus.

The unmodified word abortion generally refers to induced abortion, or deliberate actions to end a pregnancy.

Abortion occurring without intervention is known as spontaneous abortion or "miscarriage", and occurs in roughly 30–40% of all pregnancies.

Common reasons for inducing an abortion are birth-timing and limiting family size.

Other reasons include maternal health, an inability to afford a child, domestic violence, lack of support, feelings of being too young, wishing to complete an education or advance a career, and not being able, or willing, to raise a child conceived as a result of rape or incest.

When done legally in industrialized societies, induced abortion is one of the safest procedures in medicine.

Modern methods use medication or surgery for abortions.

The drug mifepristone (aka RU-486) in combination with prostaglandin appears to be as safe and effective as surgery during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy.

Self-managed medication abortion is highly effective and safe throughout the first trimester.

The most common surgical technique involves dilating the cervix and using a suction device.