Explanation of Medical Pregnancy Termination
Medical abortion is a drug-assisted way of terminating a pregnancy. Medical abortions don't require surgery or anesthesia, and they can be performed in a doctor's office or at home, with follow-up visits to your doctor. During the first trimester of pregnancy, it is the safest and most effective.
Medical abortion is a big decision with a lot of emotional and psychological ramifications. If you're thinking about getting this surgery, make sure you know what it entails, as well as the risks, problems, and alternatives.
Abortions for medical reasons are carried out for a variety of reasons. Medical abortion is an option for completing an early miscarriage or terminating an undesirable pregnancy. You can also get a medical abortion if you have a medical condition that makes carrying the pregnancy to term dangerous.
Medical Termination- is It Good?
If you're pregnant and thinking about having an abortion, only you can decide if it's the right decision for you. You may or may not want to confide in a trusted friend or family member, your partner, or someone else. You can speak with a supportive health care practitioner; most abortion facilities also have counsellors available to speak with. Sharing your thoughts and feelings about this decision with individuals who will support you no matter what you decide is often beneficial. While asking people for their opinions can be beneficial, we recommend obtaining additional assistance from a clinic or counsellor if you feel that someone is not allowing you to make your own decisions or is attempting to compel you to make a particular conclusion.
Abortion can be done for a variety of reasons. Some reasons are:
You either don't want to have children (ever) or don't want to have more children.
You don't want to get pregnant right now because it's not the best time to start a family (for example, because it would interfere with school, work, family, or other responsibilities).
You cannot afford to raise a child.
It's difficult for you to get pregnant or raise a child in your current situation.
You and your partner are having troubles, or you don't have a partner and don't want to parent a child on your own.
You have health concerns that make pregnancy difficult or risky. The fetus has a congenital abnormality or other condition.
A sexual assault resulted in the pregnancy.
FAQs on Medical Termination of Pregnancy
1. What is Pregnancy?
Pregnancy occurs when the sperm fertilizes the egg, and therefore the zygote is made. The zygote gets implanted in the wall of the uterus. As soon because the implantation takes place, the necessity for nourishment and care arises because the growth of the zygote develops into an embryo which further grows into a baby. This responsibility is haunted by a layer formed between the baby and therefore the mother, called the placenta.
2. What is Placenta Made up of and Why it is Important?
The placenta is made by finger-like projections called chorionic villi and therefore the uterine tissue. This layer plays a vital roles during pregnancy, which are briefly discussed as follows:-
Providing nutrients and oxygen to the growing fetus.
It also removes the waste materials given out by the fetus substituting the function of the gastrointestinal system and therefore the excretory system.
The placenta releases hormones like human placental lactogen, progesterone, estrogen, human chorionic gonadotropin and relaxin which are necessary for the expansion of the fetus.
The duct that connects the fetus to the placenta helps in the transportation of drugs required for growth from the mother to the fetus.
3. What is the Medical Termination of Pregnancy and Under Which Conditions it is Carried Out?
Medical termination of pregnancy is that the method to terminate the unwanted or unintentional pregnancies. It can be carried out in the following conditions -
To avoid unwanted pregnancies happened by unsafe intercourse or rapes or contraceptives failure.
To terminate a pregnancy when it's fatal to the mother or to the baby or both.
4. What are the risks of having a medical termination of pregnancy?
Medical abortion carries the following risks:
Incomplete abortion may need to be followed up by surgical abortion.
If the operation fails, the pregnancy will continue unnecessarily.
Bleeding that is heavy and lasts a long time
Infection
Fever (Severe)
Discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract
You must be certain of your decision before beginning a medical abortion. You could face harsh consequences if you decide to keep the pregnancy after taking the medications used in medical abortion.
Medical abortion has not been shown to impair future pregnancies until complications emerge.
5. How to prepare for medical termination of pregnancy?
If you're considering medical abortion, speak with your doctor beforehand. Most likely, your doctor will:
Examine both your medical history and your overall health.
Your pregnancy will be confirmed by a medical examination.
Use ultrasound to make sure the pregnancy isn't outside the uterus (ectopic pregnancy) or a tumor growing inside the uterus (molar pregnancy)
Your blood and urine should be tested.
Explain how the process works, as well as any potential risks or issues, as well as any side effects.
The decision to have a medical abortion is a big one. If at all possible, speak with your partner, family, or friends. Speak with your doctor, a spiritual adviser, or a therapist to get answers to your questions, consider your alternatives, and consider the impact the treatment may have on your future. Keep in mind that no doctor is compelled to perform an elective abortion and that some states may have legal regulations and waiting periods. If you're having an abortion procedure for a miscarriage, there are no special legal restrictions or waiting periods.
6. What to expect after the procedure of medical termination of pregnancy?
You may have the following signs and symptoms after a medical abortion, which may demand medical attention:
If you're experiencing a lot of bleeding, soak two or more pads for two hours at a time.
Discomfort in the abdomen or back that is severe
A fever that lasts for more than 24 hours is called a febrile illness.
A foul-smelling vaginal discharge
After a medical abortion, you'll need to see your doctor again to ensure that you're healing well and to examine your uterus size, bleeding, and any symptoms of infection. To avoid infection, do not have vaginal intercourse or use tampons for two weeks after the abortion.
If you're still pregnant, your doctor will probably ask if you saw the gestational sac or embryo being ejected, how much bleeding you had, and if you're still bleeding. If your doctor finds an incomplete abortion or a continuing pregnancy, you may need an ultrasound and maybe a surgical abortion.
You'll probably feel a mix of feelings after a medical abortion, including relief, grief, sadness, and guilt. These emotions are common. It might be beneficial to discuss them with a counsellor.
7. What happens during the procedure of medical termination of pregnancy?
The following medicines can be used to perform a medical termination:
Mifepristone (Mifeprex) Oral contraceptives such as and Misoprostol (Cytotec). This is the most common type of medical abortion. These medications must be taken within seven weeks after the first day of your last period.
Mifepristone (mif-uh-PRIS-tone) prevents progesterone from being produced, causing the uterine lining to thin and the embryo to implant and grow. Misoprostol (my-so-PROS-tol) is another type of medicine that causes the uterus to contract and the embryo to be ejected through the vaginal canal.
If you select this type of medical abortion, you'll most likely take mifepristone in a doctor's office or clinic. Misoprostol will most certainly be administered at home, hours or days later.
In about a week, you'll need to see your doctor again to check that the abortion was effective. The Food and Drug Administration has given its approval to this regimen (FDA).
Oral mifepristone, as well as vaginal, buccal, or sublingual misoprostol. The same drugs are used as in the previous treatment, however with this type of medical abortion, a slowly dissolving misoprostol tablet is placed in your vagina (vaginal route), in your mouth between your teeth and cheek (buccal route), or under your tongue (sublingual route).
There are fewer side effects, and the vaginal, buccal, or sublingual routes may be more effective. These pills must be taken within nine weeks of the start of your last period.
8. What is an early medical abortion?
Early medication abortion usually entails the administration of two medicines. If you're less than 11 weeks pregnant (meaning it's been up to 11 weeks, or 77 days, since your last menstruation), this surgery may be an option in the United States; but, because providers follow different rules, this can vary.
Early medication abortion is accessible in some medical offices and hospitals, as well as most abortion clinics. This type of abortion usually includes the following steps:
The number of days you are pregnant will be confirmed by a health care practitioner.
Mifepristone (brand name: Mifeprex) and misoprostol are the most common drugs prescribed (brand name: Cytotec). Only misoprostol is permitted in some areas.
The first medicine (mifepristone) is normally administered at a clinic or medical office; but, in some situations, it may be administered at home.
The second drug (misoprostol) will be taken one to two days later at home or another location of your choice (not in the clinic or at your health care provider's office). You will be given another dose of misoprostol four hours after the first dose if you are between 70 and 77 days pregnant. Even if you are fewer than 70 days pregnant, some doctors need you to take a second dose of misoprostol.
