ABORTION

What is Abortion? Abortion is a procedure to end a pregnancy. It uses medicine or surgery to

remove embryo or fetus and placenta from the uterus. It is often called miscarriage.
Types of Abortion:

 Induced
 Spontaneous
Induced Abortion- It is also called as self-induced miscarriage. Induced abortion is an abortion
performed by the pregnant women herself outside the recognized medical system. Most
induced abortions are done in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Risks of this type of abortion:

 Incomplete abortion 
 Infection  Damage to the uterus
 Hemorrhage  Death
Spontaneous Abortion - also known as unintended miscarriage, is the unintentional expulsion
of an embryo or fetus. It occurs in at least 15-20% of all recognized pregnancies and usually
takes place before the 13th week of pregnancy.
Causes:

 Chromosome problems  Infection

 Drug and alcohol abuse  Obesity
 Exposure to environmental toxins  Physical problems with the mother’s
 Hormone problems reproductive organs

 Problem with the body’s immune  Smoking

response  Trauma
 Serious body-wide diseases in the  Stress
mother
Methods:

 Medical
 Surgical
Medical- The medical abortion method is also referred to as the “abortion pill” method.
Medical abortion is an abortion caused by medicine rather than surgery. Two medications are
used in medical abortions: methotrexate and misoprostol. It is only available in women who are
less than 7 weeks pregnant.
  Methotrexate- tablets are taken by mouth or an injection of methotrexate is given by
your doctor. Methotrexate interferes with the growth of the placenta, which allows it to
separate from the endometrium. This is an unlabelled use of methotrexate.
 Misoprostol- taken by mouth or inserted vaginally, usually 5 to 7 days later. Some
doctors may give misoprostol ducally (dissolved between the gums and cheek). This
medicine causes uterine contractions so that your body passes the uterine contents. The
pregnancy usually ends at home within a day or two when the tissue from the uterus is
passed.
Side effects:

 Nausea
 Vomiting
 Fever
 Chills
 Hemorrhage
 Incomplete abortion
 Uterine or pelvic infection
Surgical- A surgical abortion also known as aspiration abortion, empties the contents of your
uterus and is usually performed within 12-14 weeks from your last normal menstrual period.
Two types of surgical abortion:

 Vacuum Aspiration
 Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA)
 Electric Vacuum Aspiration (EVA)
 Dilation and Evacuation
Vacuum Aspiration (also called suction curettage abortion)- is the most common abortion
procedure in the world. It falls under the broader banner of dilation and curettage (D&C), which
can also be performed with a sharp curette.
Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) -removes the fetus/embryo by suction using a manual
syringe
Electric Vacuum Aspiration (EVA) - which uses an electric pump to remove the fetus/embryo.
Dilation and Evacuation -Dilation and evacuation (D&E) is done in the second 12 weeks (second
trimester) of pregnancy. It usually includes a combination of vacuum aspiration, dilation and
curettage (D&C), and the use of surgical instruments (such as forceps).
-An ultrasound is done before a D&E to determine the size of the uterus and the number of
weeks of the pregnancy.
-A device called a cervical (osmotic) dilator is often inserted in the cervix 24 hours before the
procedure to help slowly open (dilate) the cervix. Dilating the cervix reduces the risk of any
injury to the cervix during the procedure. Misoprostol may also be given several hours before
surgery. This medicine can help soften the cervix.
Why the procedure is performed?

 The baby has a birth defect or genetic problem.

 Your pregnancy is harmful to your health.
 The pregnancy resulted after a traumatic event such as rape or incest.
Risks:

 Damage to the womb or cervix

 Uterine perforation
 Excessive bleeding
 Infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes
 Scarring of the inside of the uterus
 Reaction to the medicines or anesthesia
 Not removing all of the tissue, with the need for another procedure