Many women cannot get pregnant after an abortion. Let's see why this happens.
Not for every woman, the onset of pregnancy becomes a long-awaited and joyful event. Some decide to keep an unplanned pregnancy, others decide to terminate it. Modern medical practice is ready to offer various options for getting rid of an unwanted pregnancy. True, no one warns about the consequences of the first abortion.
No method guarantees security for the female reproductive system, as well as the ability to conceive freely in the future, so a woman needs to weigh the pros and cons before deciding on such an operation.
Early Termination Methods
Methods of abortion artificially in the first trimester are significantly different from manipulations at a later date. Modern medicine seeks to create the safest and least traumatic way to eliminate pregnancy. The likelihood of complications increases with increasing gestational age. In the first weeks, the uterine walls are not yet stretched, and the imbalance of hormones is not critical.
But even in this case, there is a chance of infertility after an abortion.
There are three main ways to get rid of an unwanted pregnancy:
1. Vacuum aspiration. The safest and most uncomplicated method.
2. An abortion involving curettage of the uterine cavity.
3. Interruption by taking the prescribed medications.
Hormonal disorders can accompany each of these methods, as well as other disorders in the female reproductive system. Regardless of the interruption method chosen by the specialist, a thorough examination should be performed.
Diagnosis before the procedure
The following are mandatory diagnostic measures before the abortion procedure:
1. Clinical study of the main indicators of urine and blood.
2. Gynecological examination and two-handed examination.
3. The smear intake for the purity of the vaginal microflora.
4. A blood test for the presence of syphilis, as well as hepatitis C and B.
5. Conducting a coagulogram.
6. Determination of belonging to the blood group and Rh factor.
7. Ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs.
General practitioner consultation
In addition, the patient is assigned a consultation with a therapist, who should familiarize herself with the anamnesis and decide on the advisability of terminating the pregnancy, based on the existing pathologies. Also, some women are recommended to visit a psychologist for a conversation. Some manage to dissuade from abortion, while others are given psychological support.
It often happens that women can not get pregnant after the first abortion. Why?
Medical abortion
The operation is possible only in the first trimester of pregnancy, that is, up to 12 weeks. Before the procedure, a woman undergoes an examination as part of a women's consultation, and then receives a referral for hospitalization in an inpatient setting.
The abortion procedure involves curettage of the uterine cavity using a special curette. Abortion involves the removal of the endometrial layer along with the embryo. The procedure is carried out under general anesthesia, therefore, an obligatory preparatory stage is to work with an anesthetist. Consultation of this specialist will help to eliminate contraindications for the use of drugs for anesthesia.
Immediately before surgery, you can not eat. It is necessary to empty the intestines and bladder, as well as remove hair from the perineum.
After the anesthesia works, with the help of special tools, the cervical canal of the uterine neck expands and the curettage begins. With the help of a curette, the doctor gradually exfoliates the endometrium. A characteristic crunch indicates complete detachment of the ovum and membrane. Further, bleeding should decrease, and the uterus begin to contract. The standard blood loss during an abortion is 150 ml. In some clinics, the procedure is carried out under the control of ultrasound, which reduces the likelihood of complications.
After curettage, the patient regains consciousness and is transferred to the ward. If a woman has a negative Rhesus, after surgery, immunoglobulins are administered to her. This makes it possible to prevent a rhesus conflict during a planned pregnancy.
Administration of oxytocin
In addition, after the operation, the administration of the hormone oxytocin is prescribed by drip, which helps to accelerate uterine contractions. Also, postoperative treatment includes taking antibiotics to prevent the inflammatory process. The length of stay in the hospital depends on the patient's condition after the manipulation.
After an abortion, a woman is advised to abandon sexual activity during the rehabilitation period, as well as from overheating and physical activity for one month. The day after an abortion, you can start taking oral contraceptives, which will help restore the menstrual cycle. When does the period after an abortion begin?
Discharges of bloody contents may appear within a few days after surgery, then they become lighter and pass completely. However, if bleeding intensifies, you must consult a specialist.
Often, it is after a medical abortion that they cannot become pregnant. Consider the reasons.
Medical abortion
There is also the option of medical abortion with the help of special medications. Use this method only during the first 49 days of pregnancy, which is 7 weeks from the last menstruation. This method is considered safer than surgical, and guarantees the absence of complications. The effects of medical interruption, such as bleeding and incomplete abortion, are most common.
How to get pregnant after a medical abortion?
The most optimal term for terminating an unwanted pregnancy is 3-4 weeks. During this period, the fertilized egg has not yet attached sufficiently tightly to the uterine wall. The traumatic effect on a woman in this case is minimal, in addition, there is no risk of infection. For women with a negative Rh factor, this method is considered the most acceptable, since in this case it is possible to prevent immunization of the fetus with antibodies.
Contraindications
Drugs used to terminate a pregnancy have a number of contraindications, including:
The term is more than eight weeks.
Ectopic pregnancy.
Infectious lesions of the organs of the reproductive system in acute form.
Long-term treatment with hormonal drugs or adrenal insufficiency.
Severe bronchial asthma.
The tendency to form blood clots.
Risk group
At risk of a blood clot and a bleeding disorder are women who are over 35 years old, smokers, and also with a history of heart pathologies. In these cases, medical abortion is used with increased safety measures.
Before conducting a medical abortion, a woman undergoes a thorough examination and receives a consultation from a psychologist. The procedure is carried out in a gynecological office in a hospital hospital or in a private clinic. Hospitalization in this case is optional. After taking the drug, a woman should be supervised by a specialist for two hours.
What medicines are used?
The doctor gives the patient "Mifepristone" in an amount of 200 mg. The drug interacts with progesterone receptors and blocks the action of the hormone. The endometrial layer at the same time ceases to grow, and the fetus dies. Along with this, there is a restoration of the sensitivity of the myometrium to oxytocin, and the uterus contracts, rejecting the embryo. After 48 hours, the patient must take "Misoprostol" orally or "Gemeprost" intravaginally. These prostaglandins help accelerate uterine contractions and eliminate a dead embryo. In this case, trauma to the endometrium does not occur.
When does the period after this type of abortion begin?
Bleeding after taking these drugs is considered normal, but it should not be too intense. If the gasket has to be changed every half hour, this indicates internal bleeding and requires immediate action. If there is no discharge within two days after taking the drug, this indicates an unsuccessful attempt to interrupt.
In some cases, women after a second abortion cannot become pregnant.
Alarming symptoms that cannot be ignored are the following:
A significant increase in body temperature.
Severe pain in the abdomen.
Offensive smell from discharge.
Two days after taking the drug, an ultrasound scan is performed that allows you to evaluate the result of an abortion. If the fetal egg is preserved, the woman is sent for curettage or vacuum aspiration.
Menstruation begins 5-6 weeks after a medical abortion. Immediately after the procedure, it is necessary to start taking contraceptives, since pregnancy can occur several days after bleeding. Oral contraceptives will restore the menstrual cycle.
So why can't women get pregnant after an abortion?
Complications
Abortion in any embodiment is not just medical manipulation, but severe stress for the female body. The main consequence of abortion is a hormonal imbalance in the body of a woman. The thyroid gland, the menstrual cycle, the mammary glands, etc. are at increased risk. The risk of developing pathological processes after abortion is highest in women who have not yet given birth and who have not yet reached puberty. Recovery for such patients will take much longer, and the likelihood of complications is quite high.
What are the causes of infertility after an abortion?
In addition to pathological processes in the woman’s endocrine system, abortion can provoke some problems that will affect the further conception and bearing of the child, including:
1. Damage to the endometrial layer occurs with any type of abortion. This provokes the formation of adhesions and scars, as well as thinning of the inner uterine surface. Such damage will adversely affect the development of the placenta and the attachment of the embryo in the future. If the placenta is fixed on the scar, this will affect the blood flow. A similar complication also leads to an underestimation of the placenta, which makes the gestation process impossible. Why, after an abortion, cannot women become pregnant?
2. Quite often, abortion provokes a lack of hormonal support during subsequent pregnancy. Progesterone, actively produced during the normal course of pregnancy, is not synthesized in sufficient quantities after abortion. The supporting option of hormonal treatment helps to solve this problem.
3. In most cases, abortion provokes pathological miscarriage, due to trauma to the uterine neck during the procedure. Cervical canal insufficiency develops, which affects retention function when the uterine neck is not able to withstand the pressure of a growing fetus. This situation causes a miscarriage after 16 weeks. Suturing the uterine cervix in the region of 16-20 weeks helps to prevent such problems. Sutures are removed before childbirth and do not interfere with the natural delivery process.
4. If there is a Rhesus conflict between a woman and the fetus, antibodies are formed after an abortion, which subsequently negatively affects the next pregnancy. The conflict of rhesus often becomes the cause of fetal death.
5. Termination of pregnancy increases the likelihood of developing endometritis, in which an inflammatory process occurs in the upper layer of the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity. In a chronic form, the disease is treated heavily and often causes infertility.
Of course, not everyone cannot get pregnant after an abortion. This procedure can take place without negative health effects.
Abortion Recovery
If abortion is not possible to avoid, the possible risks for further desired pregnancy should be minimized. An important point is the duration of the interruption: the sooner a woman seeks help, the less likely it is to develop complications and consequences. Medical abortion during the first pregnancy is the most preferable, therefore this option is prescribed in the early stages.
A number of recommendations are also highlighted, compliance with which will help to avoid negative consequences after an abortion.
1. It is not allowed to take independent measures to terminate a pregnancy. Even taking medications for this purpose is unacceptable without the recommendation of a doctor. Only a specialist can correctly choose the drug itself and the necessary dosage based on the patient's condition, her medical history and gestational age.
2. A prerequisite for the postoperative period is the use of antibiotics. This significantly reduces the likelihood of developing inflammatory processes, including endometritis. Reception of vitamin complexes helps the body recover and be ready for further pregnancy.
3. A few days after the abortion, an ultrasound scan is performed. This helps to prevent the development of complications, including incomplete abortion.
4. Taking hormonal drugs also reduces the risk of complications. Oral contraceptives not only help to avoid a new unwanted pregnancy, but also restore the menstrual cycle.
5. It is prohibited after surgery to visit saunas, baths and swimming pools. The restriction applies in the first two weeks after an abortion.
6. An important step in proper rehabilitation is psychological support.
Conclusion
Some experts draw a parallel between the uterine cavity after an abortion and an extensive bleeding wound. After manipulation, the uterine cavity is easy to infect, therefore, a woman should pay special attention to her health and observe the rules of intimate hygiene. Also, after an abortion, a rejection of sexual activity for one month is supposed.
We examined why women cannot become pregnant after an abortion.