Abortion of baby

Abortion | Pregnancy Birth and Baby

What is an abortion?

An abortion (or termination) is the medical process of ending a pregnancy so it does not result in the birth of a baby. Depending on how many weeks you have been pregnant, the pregnancy can be ended by taking medication or by having a surgical procedure.

An abortion is not the same as a miscarriage, where the pregnancy ends without medical intervention (although medical treatment may be needed after a miscarriage).

Why do women have abortions?

There are many reasons why a woman might choose to have an abortion. Deciding to have an abortion is a deeply personal choice and in many cases, a very difficult decision to make.

For example, the pregnancy may be unplanned and the woman’s personal circumstances might make it difficult or impossible to raise a child. These reasons could include financial considerations, being in an abusive relationship, where assault is involved, not being the right time, or the woman may not want to have a baby.

Some women may discover there is something wrong with their baby or that continuing with the pregnancy may put their own health at risk.

Whatever the reason a woman decides to terminate a pregnancy, the choice is hers to make.

When can I have an abortion?

There are 2 different types of abortion that you could have based on your stage of pregnancy. The earlier you talk to your doctor or clinic about having an abortion, the more choices you will have.

Surgical abortion

The most common type of abortion is a surgical procedure called a ‘suction curette’. This involves removing of the lining and the contents of the uterus by applying gentle suction to the inside of the uterus with a small plastic tube. Surgical abortion is a safe and straightforward day-surgery procedure most often performed in the first trimester (up to 14 weeks’ gestation). The procedure takes about 15 minutes, but you will need to be at the clinic or hospital for about 4 hours.

Medical abortion

A low-risk alternative to surgery used for terminating pregnancies earlier than 9 weeks (depending on the clinic) is a medication called mifepristone (RU486). It is sometimes called ‘the abortion pill’ and is the most widely known medication used for this procedure. Medical abortion is a 2-stage process. The first stage involves taking a tablet that blocks the hormone necessary for the pregnancy to continue. This is followed 36 to 48 hours later by a second medication that causes the contents of the uterus to be expelled.

What is a 'late-term' abortion?

A late-term or second trimester abortion is when a pregnancy is terminated after 14 weeks. The process is similar to a surgical abortion, but instead of suction, instruments are used to remove the fetus.

You may need to travel interstate to have a late-term abortion since states and territories have different laws on how late an abortion can be performed.

Is abortion legal in Australia?

Abortion law in Australia varies across states and territories. Abortion is legal in all states and territories under certain circumstances and when it is done by a registered medical professional.

In most states and territories, it is illegal to protest within 150m of a clinic or service that provides abortions.

ACT

Abortion is legal and must be performed by a medical professional including a nurse.

New South Wales

Abortions can be performed at up to 22 weeks' gestation. After that, 2 doctors must approve the procedure.

Northern Territory

One doctor can approve and perform an abortion at up to 14 weeks. Between 14 and 23 weeks, a second doctor also needs to approve. After 23 weeks, an abortion can only be performed if the life of the woman is at risk.

Queensland

Abortions can be performed at up to 22 weeks. After 22 weeks, 2 doctors must approve the procedure.

South Australia

Abortions can be performed at up to 22 weeks and 6 days. Abortions performed after this time, must be approved by 2 doctors and only if they agree that the health or mental wellbeing of the woman is at risk, to save another fetus (multiple pregnancy) or the fetus has a serious abnormality.

Tasmania

Abortions can be performed at up to 16 weeks. After 16 weeks, 2 doctors must approve the procedure.

Victoria

Abortions can be performed at up to 24 weeks. After 24 weeks, 2 doctors must approve the procedure.

Western Australia

Abortions can be performed at up to 20 weeks. Termination after 20 weeks is very restricted.

How much does an abortion cost?

The cost of an abortion will depend on whether it is a medical or surgical abortion, how far along you are and whether you are using a public service or a private clinic.

Not all GPs can prescribe a medical abortion and not all chemists stock the medication required. Depending on where you live, you may need to go to an approved clinic or a hospital.

Hospitals and GPs may offer bulk billing or they may be partially covered by Medicare. For a private clinic, the consultation can cost several hundred dollars. The medication costs around $50, less if you have a healthcare card.

Surgical abortions cost around the same as a medical abortion, but this cost can vary depending on how many weeks along you are and whether you are a public or private patient.

Apart from the cost of the actual procedure, many women may need to travel to get an abortion. Termination services are not easily accessible in rural and remote areas and depending on the law in your state or territory, you may need to travel interstate to have an abortion.

Some clinics can offer medical abortion consultations via telehealth video call. Speak to your GP or clinic to find out if this option is available to you.

Can I get counselling before an abortion?

Yes, you can. Counselling is an important part of the decision making process when you are considering whether to have an abortion. You should understand all of your options and make the decision that is right for you.

Your doctor or clinic will talk to you about your choices and offer support services so you can talk to someone.

If you can, talk to family and friends, but you shouldn’t allow anyone else to pressure you. You should also make sure you seek advice and support from counselling services that will give you unbiased information and won’t try to talk you into making a decision that is not right for you.

When can I start contraception after an abortion?

After you’ve had an abortion, your normal menstrual cycle will resume. This means it’s possible for you to fall pregnant again. You should talk to your doctor or clinic about the best type of contraception to use.

How do I find an abortion clinic?

You can contact the Family Planning clinic in your state or territory. You can also use the Find a Health service or call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 to get help finding a service near you.

How is the 'morning after' pill different from an abortion?

Emergency contraception, sometimes called the ‘morning after pill’, can be taken up to 5 days after having unprotected sex. Unlike an abortion which ends a pregnancy, emergency contraception prevents a pregnancy from happening.

There are 2 types of medication available to prevent pregnancy in Australia. The levonorgestrel pill can be taken up to 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex. Ulipristal acetate (UPA) can be taken up to 120 hours (5 days) after unprotected sex. Both are available over the counter from a pharmacist without a prescription.

Australia has safe and supportive abortion and family planning clinics that can provide reliable advice.

To find these clinics, and for reliable, unbiased information about abortion in your state or territory, contact:

Family Planning Alliance Australia
MSI Australia
Children by Choice (Queensland)
1800MyOptions (Victoria)
NSW Pregnancy Options Helpline (1800 131 231)

You can also discuss your options with your doctor, or call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 to speak with a maternal child health nurse for information and support.

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Ending a Pregnancy - familydoctor.org

When a pregnant woman’s pregnancy ends on its own, this is called a miscarriage. It’s also known as a spontaneous abortion. When a woman chooses to end her pregnancy, it is called an induced abortion. There are two reasons why a woman would choose to end a pregnancy. One is for therapeutic reasons. This is done because the woman has a health condition in which pregnancy threatens her life. The other is called an elective abortion. This is done because a woman chooses to end a pregnancy for non-medical reasons.

There are 2 types of induced abortion:

Medical abortion – a woman takes medicine to end the pregnancy.
Surgical abortion – a woman has surgery to end the pregnancy.

These types of abortion are usually done in the first trimester (the first 3 months) of the pregnancy. A doctor or other health care professional performs the procedures. They are done in a hospital, doctor’s office, or health center.

Path to improved health

What is a medical abortion?

A medical abortion is an abortion caused by medicine. It is usually done in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. The most common type of medical abortion uses a medicine called mifepristone. This is a pill that blocks progesterone, a hormone needed for pregnancy. It causes the lining of the womb (uterus) to become thin and break down. Other medicines used for this purpose include methotrexate, misoprostol, prostaglandins, or a combination of these medicines.

In general, this type of medical abortion is a 3-step process:

A woman visits her doctor and takes the mifepristone.
She comes back a few days later to take misoprostol. Misoprostol makes the uterus contract and empty. Many women have bleeding for about 2 weeks after taking misoprostol.
After about 2 weeks, the woman returns to the doctor for a follow-up visit. Her doctor checks to be sure that the medicine was effective. Light bleeding or discharge (called spotting) may continue for several weeks.

The exact process will vary by state. States regulate how many times you’ll need to see the doctor and which tests he or she must perform.

What does medical abortion feel like?

For most women, medical abortion feels like a bad menstrual period. The bleeding will be much heavier than a normal period. They will probably have strong to severe cramps, diarrhea, or an upset stomach. These symptoms are normal. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can help relieve the cramps. But the doctor will want to know if any of the following occur:

Bleeding through more than 2 sanitary pads in an hour.
Fever above 100°F for more than 4 hours.
Pain even after taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

How effective is medical abortion?

Mifepristone is about 97% effective. In rare cases when medical abortion doesn’t work, surgical abortion may be necessary.

What is surgical abortion?

Surgical abortion is when a doctor performs a procedure to remove the lining of the womb. There are 2 common procedures:

Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA).
Dilatation and evacuation (D&E).

Both procedures use suction to empty the womb. MVA uses a handheld tool. D&E is done with a suction machine and other tools. MVA is usually done in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. D&E can be done after the first month of pregnancy and before the end of the 20th week. It is usually done during the second trimester.

Before the procedure, the doctor can give the woman medicine. This will help her feel calm. Then the doctor injects the area around the opening to the womb (called the cervix) with medicine. This makes the area numb. The doctor uses a tool or medicine to stretch open (dilate) the cervix. He or she then inserts a tube through the cervix and into the uterus. The tube is attached to a suction or vacuum pump. The contents of the uterus are suctioned out and emptied through the tube.

What does surgical abortion feel like?

For most women, surgical abortion feels like strong menstrual cramps. Women are often given medicine to help with the pain. They can usually go home as soon as an hour after the procedure. They are told to rest when they get home. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can also help. Bleeding may continue off and on for a few weeks.

How effective is surgical abortion?

Surgical abortion is nearly 100% effective.

Things to consider

Are abortions safe?

When done by health care professionals during the first or second trimesters, both medical and surgical abortions are generally very safe. Serious complications are rare. Abortion generally does not reduce a woman’s ability to get pregnant in the future.

Women may feel many different emotions after an abortion, such as grief, relief, happiness, and sadness. There is no right or wrong way to feel after an abortion. Talk to you doctor about how you are feeling.

Questions to ask your doctor

Which type of abortion is best for me?
What will I experience during the abortion?
Will I be given any anesthesia for a surgical abortion?
How heavy will my bleeding be?
How long will bleeding last?
What are my options if a medical abortion doesn’t work?
Should I talk to a counselor before or after the procedure?

Resources

National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus: Abortion – medical

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office on Women’s Health: Unplanned pregnancy

This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

Medical termination of pregnancy in the early stages in Nizhny Novgorod at the Tonus clinic, medical abortion, mini abortion

Termination of pregnancy is an important step in the life of a woman who is going to do this. It is important to think carefully about everything, and also, to choose a clinic where you would like to have an abortion. After you have made up your mind, the question arises, where to have an abortion? Not all clinics are licensed to perform abortions, so if you want to do abortion, clinic , in which it will be performed, must have the appropriate permission.

In our country, at her own request, a woman can have an abortion for up to 12 weeks. There are also various indications for termination of pregnancy. Abortion for social reasons a woman can do up to 22 weeks, for medical - at any stage of pregnancy.

Abortion in this case is performed after determining the indications for it by a gynecologist and related specialists. The reason for termination of pregnancy for medical reasons can be both a serious pathology on the part of the woman and on the part of the fetus. Only a competent and experienced gynecologist will help you decide on the choice of the method of abortion - medical, mini-abortion or surgical.

The best is early termination of pregnancy . Early termination of pregnancy reduces the risk of complications in the future and can be carried out without the use of invasive techniques.

Early termination of pregnancy. Medical abortion

Medical abortion is one of the safest methods and an excellent alternative to surgical abortion. Medical abortion is performed up to 6 weeks of pregnancy. When holding medical termination of pregnancy in the early stages, drugs are used that, by their mechanism of action, inhibit the synthesis of progesterone.

Medical abortion is performed only under the strict supervision of a gynecologist. After medical termination of pregnancy, an ultrasound scan is required to examine the uterine cavity.

Early termination of pregnancy by medical abortion method does not impair the woman's reproductive function. According to many studies, after medical termination of pregnancy, ovulation is restored in the shortest possible time. An additional positive quality of medical abortion is the possibility of its implementation directly on the day of treatment.

Early termination of pregnancy - mini-abortion

Mini-abortion as a method of early termination of pregnancy can be performed from 6 to 12 weeks. The main technique for mini-abortion is vacuum aspiration. The fertilized egg is removed from the uterine cavity using a special electric suction. This option for early termination of pregnancy is more gentle than the standard options for surgical abortion.

We must not forget that the sooner have an abortion , the lower the risk of complications.

The procedure takes about 5 minutes and the woman can go home within a few hours after the procedure. The uterine mucosa, unlike curettage, is slightly injured. A contraindication to abortion in this way is the presence of infection in the acute period. After the mini-abortion, a control ultrasound examination of the uterine cavity is performed.

Where to have an abortion?

Many women (especially young women), in order not to advertise their pregnancy, start looking for options, where to have an abortion . It must be remembered that it is most correct to have an abortion in a clinic, under the supervision of specialists, and not with the help of folk remedies.

An abortion made outside the walls of a medical institution that has the right to perform this manipulation is called criminal. A self-performed abortion by untested means can lead to serious consequences. In this case, a woman risks not only the possibility of having children in the future, but also her health.

Medical abortion

Termination of pregnancy by indications or at the request of a woman for a period of 6 to 12 weeks can be performed by curettage of the uterine cavity. This procedure is a surgical procedure and requires preparation. As with any other operation, all the necessary tests are given. Termination of pregnancy is carried out on an empty stomach, as the woman is given anesthesia.

In the postoperative period during the month you need to refrain from sexual intercourse, do not go to the sauna, bath, bathing in water, it is not recommended to take a bath. All these measures are aimed at preventing infection.

It is also not advisable to overcool, be subjected to excessive stress and physical exertion for some time. It is necessary to give the body a rest, so that in the future there will be no problems with conception.

After the abortion, it is necessary to visit a gynecologist. During the appointment, the doctor will conduct a comprehensive examination with obligatory ultrasound control, as well as select the optimal method of contraception, which will help to avoid unwanted pregnancies in the future, and therefore new abortions. A large number of abortions brings with it a large number of complications that can affect the reproductive potential of a woman.

Psychological support for a woman is also important, both before and after an abortion. The doctor in this case should be not only a competent specialist, but also a sensitive psychologist who can encourage the patient.

A great role is given to conversations with a woman, since she must understand that the doctor is on her side and in no case condemns the perfect act.

Within a month after the abortion, women should monitor their well-being.

If you experience pain, bleeding, fever or other unusual phenomena, you should definitely visit a gynecologist for a comprehensive examination and identify the cause of the symptoms.

Where to have an abortion in Nizhny Novgorod?

Termination of pregnancy in Nizhny Novgorod is performed by experienced specialists at Tonus Medical Center. It is possible to carry out manipulations at various stages of pregnancy. An abortion performed at Tonus Medical Center is a safe procedure carried out by highly qualified doctors who choose an individual approach to each woman and provide reliable medical care.

You can make an appointment at the Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology by calling 8 (831) 411-11-22

Pregnancy or abortion - City Clinical Hospital No. 3 named after. BI Alperovich

The statistics are sad: in Russia, out of three pregnancies, only one ends in childbirth. Almost 10% of women of childbearing age have an abortion once a year, and 60% of women terminate their first pregnancy in this way. That is, abortion remains the most common method of "contraception".

Establishing the facts of pregnancy

Pregnancy or delay?

I think it is superfluous to remind you that it is a holy woman's business to follow her monthly cycle. At the slightest uncertainty that you are now ready to save, endure and give birth to a child, in the very first days of a delay in menstruation - run to the doctor. Pregnancy of a teenage girl, which is currently not so rare, is rarely detected before the notorious three months: it happens that the girl has not had regular periods at all or she has not yet got used to keeping a calendar, as adult women do. As a result, hopes that everything will “come” or “dissolve” are not justified.

Of course, if you are not pregnant, everything will work out by itself. What if you are still pregnant? The later you decide to have an abortion, the greater the likelihood of complications. The fact is that most non-surgical methods of abortion are effective only in the early stages, with a delay of several days. But ladies, unfortunately, in such a situation, most often "wait for the weather by the sea" ...

How to establish the fact of pregnancy?

A missed period is not necessarily pregnancy. Nervous tension, lack of sleep, weight loss (whether it's just malnutrition or taking weight loss pills) have the right to affect your cycle. By the way, even in the most healthy woman, when weight is reduced to the minimum, interruptions in menstruation will begin, and then they will stop altogether. Nature is arranged so that in critical situations of a global scale (wars, revolutions), which are necessarily accompanied by stress and hunger, women do not lose blood, and do not become pregnant, and do not give birth.

Will an ultrasound always help?

The only reliable way to determine pregnancy is ultrasound (ultrasound). Ultrasound is one of the most reliable diagnostic methods. However, in the first weeks of delay, he is still not able to reliably “consider” pregnancy, and time is running out.

Establishing pregnancy by hormone levels

"Test strip". This is the simplest of the express pregnancy diagnostic tools you can buy at any pharmacy kiosk. The principle of such a diagnosis is simple - during pregnancy, from the very first day after conception, there is a change in the level of hormones in the woman's blood. The fetal egg (future fetus) produces hormones that enter the bloodstream, and from there into the urine, the test is based on determining the level of one of these hormones (chorionic gonadotropin).

Advice - buy the test in the evening and use it in the morning: in the morning urine, the concentration of the hormone is much higher than during the day.

Laboratory tests. More sophisticated methods for determining pregnancy are based on measuring the level of hormones in a woman's body in a laboratory way. You take an analysis: blood from a vein or urine, and after a while you get the result. In this case, the level of another, more specific hormone, trophoblastic beta-globulin, is usually determined, which gives more reliable information about the timing of a possible pregnancy.

The laboratory method is much more reliable, although more time consuming.

So, pregnancy has been established

You are not going to keep this pregnancy for some reason. What is the first thing a good doctor should tell you?

First, that all sorts of artisanal methods, like sitting in a hot bath with a glass of vodka, are effective only if there was no actual pregnancy. Conclusion: never try to get rid of a pregnancy on your own!

Secondly, about the fact that any, even a well-performed abortion, can lead to negative consequences for the female body: the menstrual cycle can be restored in 3-4 months; in nulliparous, the restoration of all functions can be delayed for up to six months or more;

abortion is the most common cause of gynecological diseases, after an abortion every fifth woman develops them;

abortion disrupts the work of the endocrine and nervous systems, reduces the body's resistance;

a woman subconsciously perceives abortion as violence against her own body - this is psychological stress that can lead to changes in the psyche;

Like any other operation, abortion can cause a number of complications of varying severity.

Thirdly, if all these arguments do not convince you and you still decide to have an abortion, a good doctor should tell you how to act in order to minimize the consequences of an abortion. And he will advise you something like this:

Inform the father of the unborn child about the pregnancy and make a decision together.

Have an abortion as soon as possible (it is safer to terminate a pregnancy before 6 weeks). In general, at the first suspicion of an unplanned pregnancy (delayed menstruation), you should immediately contact a gynecologist. Don't delay - every day is precious.

Depending on your situation, choose the safest method of abortion.

What method is right for you, the doctor will tell you, the purpose of this article is to acquaint a woman with all the possibilities of modern medicine, to acquaint and once again (alas, often not superfluous!) Warn: when determining the method of abortion, you only choose the least of several evils; The choice of a person who really cares about his health is the choice of contraceptives!

Non-surgical abortion

Homeopathy

Efficiency of not more than 20%

needle-reflex therapy

Efficiency up to 40% with a small (10-15 days) delay and depends on the qualifications of the specialist

Magnetic induction (“Magnetic cap)

based on an artificial disruption of the normal transmission of electrical impulses from the uterus to the brain, causing contractile activity of the uterus and provoking miscarriage

Effectiveness 50% with a delay of no more than 3-5 days, is used only if there are no contraindications

Medical abortion ("French pills") eggs

Efficacy 90-95% up to 42 days late

Surgical abortion

vacuum aspiration (“mini-abortion”)

on pregnancy periods up to 4-5 weeks

Medical abortion

Instrumental removal of the fetal egg with simultaneous wrapping of the uterine cavity

9000 9000

for 12 pregnancy periods up to 12 weeks

"Late abortion"

Solutions inducing labor are introduced into the fetal bladder

For periods of more than 12 weeks of pregnancy for special indications

Small Caesarean section

Breeding pregnancy for a long period for medical reasons

Good abortions do not have

Abortions are usually divided into early (Up to 12 weeks of pregnancy) and later (from 12 to 28 weeks) performed according to special indications. In practice, induced abortion is most often used in early pregnancy. There is also such a thing as a mini-abortion, it is done at an extra early date (from 12 to 25 days of delay).

Methods of termination of pregnancy

Non-surgical methods of termination of pregnancy have a huge advantage over conventional abortion, as they minimize possible complications. There is no penetration of instruments into the uterus, so there are no tears, ruptures or any other mechanical injuries. There are no inflammatory complications and, finally, there are no complications associated with anesthesia. Among the disadvantages are the presence of a number of contraindications and a sharp decrease in effectiveness as the gestational age increases.

But if the deadline is missed, only a classic abortion remains in stock. When choosing a clinic for this operation, it is important to pay attention to the following circumstances: first of all, the clinic must have a license, and the doctor must have a certificate. The operation must be performed under general anesthesia (narcosis). To do it, of course, should be in sterile conditions. It is also highly desirable to conduct a course of antibiotic treatment after an abortion to prevent infection.

Russian legislation on abortion

In pre-revolutionary Russia, abortion was considered a crime, the responsibility for which was borne both by the woman herself and by the person who performed the operation (the woman was threatened with imprisonment in a house of correction, and the doctor was in prison).

After the revolution, the situation changed: By the Decree of the People's Commissariat of Health and the People's Commissariat of Justice of November 16, 1920 On the artificial termination of pregnancy, abortions were legalized.

Then, in 1936, due to the difficult demographic situation, abortion operations were again banned under pain of criminal liability (Decree of the Central Executive Committee and Council of People's Commissars of the USSR of June 27, 1936 "On the prohibition of abortion").

On November 23, 1955, by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR "On the abolition of the prohibition of abortion", the operation of artificial termination of pregnancy was allowed for all women in the absence of medical contraindications. Order of the Ministry of Health of the USSR dated 29On November 1956, the Instruction “On the procedure for performing an artificial termination of pregnancy (abortion)” was adopted, which regulated this issue in detail, in 1961 some changes were made to it regarding the issuance of sick leave.

At the same time, the performance of an illegal (criminal) abortion entailed a fairly severe punishment. Art. 116 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR (1960) provided for liability (from 1 to 8 years in prison with deprivation of the right to engage in medical activities) for illegal abortion by a person without a higher medical education and even by a doctor without special training, as well as for abortion outside a specialized medical institution . A number of the Criminal Codes of the Union republics also provided for liability for forcing a woman to have an abortion.

Currently, abortion is officially permitted, but its production is strictly regulated by the Instructions on the procedure for performing an artificial termination of pregnancy (approved by Order of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation No. 242 dated June 11, 1996), the deviation from which entails criminal liability in the form of freedom for up to 5 years with deprivation of the right to engage in medical activities.

Abortion is allowed only in stationary medical institutions specially designed for carrying out such operations, with a gestation period of not more than 12 weeks.

If there are medical or social indications, it is possible to have an abortion even after 12 but up to 22 weeks. Medical indications are considered to be the presence of diseases in a woman that pose a threat to her life and health during pregnancy and childbirth; serious illness in the unborn child.

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