Elective Surgical Abortion
Alternate Names : Induced Abortion, Interruption of Pregnancy
What happens later at home?
At home, a woman should take these steps.
Avoid using tampons or having sex for at least 2 weeks.
Be aware of the possible emotional aspects of abortion.
Some women have depression
similar to postpartum depression
after an abortion.
Call the doctor if there are any new or worsening symptoms, such as fever,
severe or lasting abdominal distress,
or heavy vaginal bleeding.
Slowly resume daily activity.
If a woman has no problems after the abortion, it is likely
that she will be able to get pregnant at a later time. A follow-up visit
with a doctor should include a pelvic exam
to make sure the uterus is shrinking in size. This office visit is also a good
time for a woman and her doctor to talk about birth control.
This will help the woman choose a method that will work well for her.
What are the potential complications after the procedure?
Any type of abortion can cause heavy bleeding that might
require a D&C
or blood transfusion.
There are other possible complications linked to each type of abortion.
Early abortions tend to be much safer than later ones. In the first
trimester of pregnancy, rare complications of a D&C
are:
a hole in the uterus
infection in the lining of the uterus
severe bleeding
These problems are far more likely to happen when a D&E
is done after 12 weeks of pregnancy. At that time, the uterus is larger
and softer. This means more tissue must be removed.
In late abortions, putting very concentrated salt solutions,
urea, or prostaglandin into the amniotic fluid can cause the problems
listed below:
damage to the cervix
infection
leftover tissue that remains in the uterus, which means a
D&C
would need to be done
severe bleeding
Sometimes, too much of the uterine lining is scraped away,
causing scar tissue to form within the walls of the uterus. The scar
tissue can cause infertility.
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