Types Of Abortion

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Abortion in the broadest sense of the word refers to any premature termination of pregnancy.

However, more often by this word we mean medical intervention in order to get rid of unwanted pregnancy. There are several types of abortion. The doctor decides which procedure to perform.

In the first trimester of pregnancy, the maximum number of medical abortions is performed. In a period of up to 12 weeks, a woman herself determines for herself whether she will give birth to a child.

Types of early abortion

Obstetric terms of pregnancy are calculated depending on the first day of the last menstruation. According to these criteria, at the time of conception, the period is already two weeks. On the first day of a missed period, the gestational age is considered to be 4 weeks. What can be considered a short term? Usually this period is 63 days from the last menstruation, that is, 9 obstetric weeks.

There are several types of early abortion. Emergency contraception can be used even before pregnancy is diagnosed. These measures are in fact a medical abortion for a period of 2-3 weeks. Such contraception includes the installation of an intrauterine device, the use of hormonal drugs or mifepristone in a certain dose.

At 4-6 weeks of pregnancy, another type of abortion is possible - vacuum aspiration of the contents of the uterus. This intervention is considered conservative and can be performed without hospitalization in a hospital. This abortion is also called a mini-abortion. The big advantage of early vacuum aspiration is the absence of mechanical expansion of the cervix during the procedure. Many gynecologists consider this method to be the safest type of abortion.

Until the 63rd day of pregnancy, it is possible to interrupt it with medication. For a period of up to 7 weeks, this procedure is carried out in a polyclinic, and for a period of 8-9 weeks - only in a hospital. The medicinal type of abortion is closest in its mechanism to spontaneous abortion, that is, to miscarriage. For two days, a woman takes antigestogen and prostaglandin preparations according to the scheme. The tablets provoke the death of the embryo and its expulsion from the uterine cavity. Gynecologists call the procedure the most harmless type of abortion for a woman's reproductive health. This means that the development of infertility with a correctly performed intervention occurs extremely rarely. However, medical abortion can lead to severe bleeding and inflammation.

Types of abortions at 7-12 weeks

If the interruption was not performed at the earliest possible date, then after 7 weeks a classic abortion is possible. This intervention is considered operational and is carried out in a hospital setting. What are the features of this type of abortion? First, the manipulations are performed under general anesthesia. Intravenous anesthesia is most commonly used. Secondly, the classic abortion involves mechanical expansion of the cervical canal. Sometimes such intervention can provoke miscarriage of subsequent pregnancies. Mechanical expansion of the neck is especially dangerous for nulliparous women. The main part of the surgical type of abortion is scraping of the uterine mucosa or its vacuum aspiration.

Medication interruption can be performed up to 9 weeks. But during this period, the use of tablets is associated with severe complications. Therefore, medical abortion is not considered the safest form of abortion after 7 weeks.

Types of late abortion

In the second and third trimester of pregnancy, abortion is considered hazardous to a woman's health. However, the presence of social indications for interruption for up to 22 weeks or medical indications for any period can lead to induced abortion.

The doctor chooses the most suitable type of abortion at a later date. Much depends on the state of health of the woman. The presence of heart failure, severe metabolic disorders and other serious problems lead to a small cesarean section. This operation is easier to transfer than other types of abortion, since it excludes labor.

If the woman's health is satisfactory, then a hypertonic sodium chloride solution can be introduced into the amniotic fluid, which causes the death of the fetus. Further, drugs are used that cause the uterus to contract and expel its contents. This type of abortion is performed in the gynecological department by an experienced gynecologist.

Any termination of pregnancy after 22 weeks is possible only for strict medical reasons. Any type of abortion during this period is considered an artificial premature birth or cesarean section. If the child is born alive, then the medical staff conducts resuscitation procedures and sends the baby to the children's ward for nursing. Today, many babies born deeply premature survive. However, they often have health problems.

The safest type of abortion

Any type of abortion is an ordeal for a woman's physical and mental health. Complications of the intervention can be bleeding, inflammation, menstrual irregularities, infertility, depression, etc.

The safest type of abortion is selected individually. Most gynecologists are in favor of drug interruption. This abortion has the least impact on the menstrual cycle and fertility. Vacuum aspiration without mechanical expansion of the cervix is also quite safe. Its advantage is a lower risk of bleeding and retention of a part of the ovum in the uterus. Some doctors call the classic intervention the safest type of abortion. This termination of pregnancy guarantees 100% effectiveness with a good safety profile.

In the later stages, any type of abortion is considered a serious intervention. Reproductive health is restored faster during artificial childbirth. A minor cesarean section is the safest type of abortion for a woman's cardiovascular system.

Labor leads to increased pressure, the risk of hemorrhage. During the operation, contractions are not caused, and the correct functioning of the cardiovascular system is supported by the anesthesiologist.

Criminal abortion

A few words must be said about the illegal termination of pregnancy.

This type of abortion threatens not only health, but also the life of a woman. There are a huge number of ways of criminal abortion. In any case, a woman is at risk of heavy bleeding, inflammation of the pelvic organs, and blood poisoning. In our country, various types of abortions are performed, including at the request of a woman. Confidentiality is guaranteed to all who seek medical help. A classic abortion for 7-12 weeks is free of charge under the policy. Teenagers after 15 years of age can decide to terminate a pregnancy without informing their parents. All of the above makes the criminal type of abortion unnecessary for the vast majority of Russian women.

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