To have an abortion means to terminate (end) a pregnancy before it has reached "full term", usually forty weeks. An abortion can be procured or occur naturally. When an abortion occurs naturally it is because the foetus has not developed normally or because the mother has injury or disorder that prevents her from carrying the pregnancy to term. This is commonly known as a miscarriage. 1

The miscarriage can take place so early on into the pregnancy that the woman may no even notice that she is yet pregnant.

Procured abortions most commonly take place in the earlier stages of the pregnancy, usually within the first three or four months. It is safer for the health of the woman if she has the abortion earlier. In rare cases the abortion is carried out later into the pregnancy sometimes because the foetus develops serious health problems and it could put...