Medical Abortion – Treatment, Procedure And Side Effects

What is the treatment? When an unwanted, unplanned or natural pregnancy is deliberately terminated at an early stage it is known an abortion. On occasion an abortion may take place by itself, that is, naturally and there may be many factors to such kind of abortion, mainly being stress or trauma. In such cases, it is called a miscarriage, also known as spontaneous abortion. Medical Abortion is a type of service offered to women who do not want to continue their pregnancy. In such cases, they may end their pregnancy either by using
Abortion pills or Surgery. If you have a doubt that you are pregnant or have confirmed your
pregnancy through a home test or an ultrasound test, make sure to consult a gynaecologist immediately. If you want to terminate the pregnancy, it is best to do it in the first trimester of pregnancy that is, in first three months or 12 weeks of pregnancy. Thus, make sure to discuss all your options with a gynaecologist. Early termination of pregnancy in a proper manner also reduces the risks involved.

Terminating a pregnancy is a big decision and one that is very difficult to make specially for a women. Thus, it should be carefully considered for all pros and cons and the women should also be mentally prepared to do so. In the case of any type of dilemma, counselling may be opted for. One can either speak to their gynaecologist about the repurcussions of an abortion or discuss it with a close friend or family member whom you trust. Only after serious deliberation should an abortion be considered as once done is an irreversible process.

How is the treatment done?

There are typically two ways to terminate a pregnancy. The first method is known as a medical abortion, this method uses abortion pills, MTP kit, Mifegest Kit and other pills to terminate unplanned or unwanted pregnancy and the second method is known as a surgical abortion which is to surgically remove the fetus from
the womb. ·       
MedicalAbortion– A medical abortion generally involves the consumption of medicines like Mifepristone and Misoprostol to terminate a pregnancy. This type of abortion can only be done if the pregnancy is less than 12 weeks. In a medical abortion, two types of ‘abortion pills’ are taken orally  and bucally or vaginally within a gap of 24-48 hours, which induces an abortion similar to miscarriage.
      
Surgical
Abortion – This is generally done after 9 weeks of pregnancy, it is a very short procedure in which the fetus is removed surgically. There are two types of surgical abortion procedures and these include vacuum aspiration and dilation and evacuation (D&E). Vacuum aspiration involves the use of a vacuum device or suction device which effectively sucks out and eliminates the uterine contents via the cervix. Apart from eliminating pregnancy, this procedure is also done in the case of endometrial biopsy. Dilation and evacuation – In this type of surgical abortion, the cervix is first dilated after which the uterine contents are surgically removed with the help of forceps. Dilation and evacuation are generally done if the pregnancy is at the max 12 weeks. Who is eligible for the treatment? (When is the treatment done?) Abortion eligibility generally depends on the stage and duration of a woman’s pregnancy. A medical abortion can be opted for before the pregnancy reaches 12 weeks, after which a woman can only undergo a surgical abortion and should not try medical abortion as that does not work.

Who is not eligible for the treatment? There are a number of countries which do not allow abortion after a woman has reached 24 weeks of her pregnancy. While women who are under 18 need parents’ consent before they can get an abortion in a clinic.

Are there any side effects? While both the medical and surgical abortion procedures are quite safe, every procedure and treatment do involve some risks. Abortion risks include – ·       
Development of infection in the womb.

Excessive bleeding may result after termination.

The cervix can get damaged · The womb can get damaged.

Medical Abortion is safest if it is done at the earliest. In the case of any
complications, a gynaecologist should be consulted immediately and relevant treatment should be started immediately. Opting for an abortion does not reduce any chance of a future pregnancy.

What are the post-treatment guidelines?

Post the abortion complete recovery is very important. The guidelines are – ·

Have sex only after 2 weeks, post the procedure to avoid any infection. ·     

Take a pregnancy test to confirm if the procedure was a success. The test should be taken about 4 weeks post the procedure. ·   

Oral Contraception, Vaginal contraceptions should be used immediately after the procedure. ·      

Wait a day post the treatment and then take a bath, primarily because you may still be a bit weak from the medicine that was given to you for the procedure. Tampons should be used only 4 weeks post the procedure to reduce any infections.

How long does it take to recover?

The abortion procedure takes about two days to complete and the recovery period may take about 2 weeks depending on complications and case to case basis.

What is the price of the treatment in USA?

In USA, an abortion may cost from $200 – to $3000 depending on the kind of procedure that is undergone. This depends if one is undergoing Medical abortion or surgical abortion.

Are the results of the treatment permanent?

Yes, the results of the treatment are permanent

What are the alternatives to the treatment?

An alternative way of abortion includes the use of herbs to trigger a miscarriage. This is known as herbal abortion but these are not recommended as they are not fool proof. Although not entirely an alternative to abortion, having the baby and giving it up for adoption may also be considered.