The term medical abortion refers to medication-assisted abortion. You can have a medical abortion in a doctor’s office or at home, with follow-up visits. It works best in the first trimester.
Making a medical abortion decision is emotionally charged. If you’re thinking about it, learn about the risks, complications, and alternatives.
Why it’s done?
Medical abortions are highly individual. Medicated abortion can end an unwanted pregnancy. You can have a medical abortion if you have a health condition that makes pregnancy risky.
Risks
Potential risks of medical abortion include:
- Incomplete abortions, requiring surgery.
- In case of failure, unwanted pregnancy
- Infection bleeding
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
Make sure you’re ready before you start. Medical abortion medications may cause major complications if you decide to keep the pregnancy.
Abortion without complications does not affect future pregnancies.
Medical abortion isn’t an option if you:
- Are too far along in your pregnancy. If you’ve been pregnant for nine weeks (after the start of your last period). After seven weeks, some medical abortions aren’t.
- Have an intrauterine device (IUD).
- To discover that you have an ectopic pregnancy (ectopic pregnancy).
- Have certain medical conditions. These include diseases of the blood vessels, the heart, or the lungs, as well as problems with the liver, kidneys, or lungs, or any uncontrollable seizure disorder.
- Some steroids and blood thinners will have an effect.
- Can’t make follow-up visits to your doctor or don’t have access to emergency care.Hase, an allergy to the medications used? Medically ineligible women can have a dilation and curettage (D & C).
How you prepare
Consult your doctor about medical abortion. Your MD may:
- Health assessment
- Verify your pregnancy.
- Perform an ultrasound to rule out ectopic or uterine tumor pregnancy (molar pregnancy).
- Blood and urine tests
- Describe the procedure’s risks and pitfalls.
An option for medical abortion. Discuss with your loved one, family, or friends. Ask your doctor, spiritual advisor, or counselor for advice.
There are legal requirements and waiting periods in some states for elective abortions. Abortion for miscarriage is legal and has no waiting periods.
What you can expect
Medical abortion doesn’t require surgery or anesthesia. The treatment can begin in a clinic. A medical abortion can also be performed at home, but a doctor must be consulted.
During the procedure
Medication abortion is accomplished using two specific drugs:
- Oral mifepristone (Mifeprex) and oral misoprostol (Cytotec). Abortion by medical means These drugs are usually taken 7 weeks post-menstrual.
Prevents embryo implant and growth by inhibiting progesterone (if-uh-PRIS-tone). Misoprostol (my-so-PROS-tol) causes the uterus to contract and vaginally expel the embryo.
You’ll probably get mifepristone in a clinic. Take misoprostol later at home.
Your doctor will need to confirm the abortion a week later. This regimen is FDA approved (FDA).
- Mifepristone is taken orally, and misoprostol is given orally, in the buccal cavity, or as a sublingual preparation. A slowly dissolving misoprostol tablet is placed in your vagina (vaginal route), mouth (buccal route), or under your tongue (lingual route) (sublingual route).
- These methods are less invasive and more effective. Taken within nine weeks of your last period.
- Methotrexate and vaginal misoprostol. Methotrexate (Otrexup, Rasuvo, others) is rarely used to prevent unwanted pregnancies (ectopic pregnancies). Treatment with methotrexate takes up to a month to complete. Injectable misoprostol is used at home after methotrexate.
- Vaginal misoprostol is alone. misoprostol alone can be effective before nine weeks of pregnancy. Other medical abortion methods work better.
These medicines cause vaginal bleeding and cramping. They can:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever Chills
- Diarrhea
- Headache
During and after the abortion, you may be given painkillers. It rarely occurs after a medical abortion.
Based on your pregnancy week count, your doctor will advise you on pain and bleeding. You can’t do your normal daily routine, but you don’t have to. Stock up on sanitary napkins.
You’ll need a doctor who can take phone calls and emergency services for a home medical abortion. You must also recognize issues.
After the procedure
Signs and symptoms that may require medical attention after a medical abortion include:
- Major bleeding—having to change more than two pads in an hour for two hours straight
- Severe abdominal or back pain
- Fever lasting more than 24 hours
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
If you have a medical abortion, you’ll need to see your doctor for follow-up care. Avoid vaginal intercourse and tampon use for two weeks after the abortion.
If you still feel pregnant, saw the expulsion of the gestational sac or embryo, and had or are having bleeding, the answer is yes. Surgical abortion may be required if your doctor suspects an incomplete abortion or recurrent pregnancy.
Your emotions may be mixed after a medical abortion. It’s normal. Consult a therapist.
Preventing pregnancy
Ovulation and pregnancy can occur two weeks after a medical abortion. Examine post-abortion contraception.