Artificial abortion was the only operation that is not primarily aimed at improving health. And only in an extremely small percentage of case histories it is carried out due to medical indications aimed at maintaining the health or life of a woman. In this connection, a reasonable question arises, what consequences should be expected after an abortion? Consider all types of medical termination of pregnancy and possible measures to prevent a deterioration in the reproductive health of women.
Medical abortion
This type of artificial termination of pregnancy is based on the use of a special drug by the patient under the strict supervision of a doctor. It consists of substances aimed at suppressing the production of progesterone. Medical abortion is carried out exclusively in medical institutions and only if the necessary test results and ultrasound data on uterine pregnancy are available.
It is worth noting that medical abortion can be performed at the request of a woman only for a period of 3 to 7 weeks. In the future, its use is used solely for medical reasons and with the written consent of the woman.
What are the expected consequences after medical abortion? Despite the fact that WHO recommends 2 well-defined drugs as the safest for reproductive health of a woman, one of them, namely mifepristone, has the ability to "settle" in the body and affect subsequent pregnancies. Another type of consequence after medical abortion is the incomplete discharge of the ovum from the uterus. Therefore, the doctor will have to use other methods of terminating the pregnancy artificially. It is possible to prevent such consequences by regular observation by a doctor and taking hormone therapy prescribed by him.
In addition, medical abortion should only be performed by a qualified doctor and only with the use of original, usable drugs. Otherwise, there is a risk of infertility or, conversely, the further development of pregnancy with genetic disorders in the fetus.
Vacuum aspiration
At this time, WHO is recognized as the most sparing method of abortion. He is also known as a “mini-abortion" because of the period at which he is performed. The essence of this method is that the doctor “sucks” the fetus and its amniotic fluid using anesthesia. Such a procedure can be carried out manually or by means of an electric vacuum suction, which is introduced into the uterus. The period that is given for the implementation of this surgical intervention is four to six weeks of pregnancy.
What could be the consequences after an abortion performed by vacuum aspiration? The first and main thing is damage to the cervix, as well as the endometrium. The second, which is much less common, is the incomplete extraction of the fetus and its amniotic fluid or the absence of extraction in general and, as a consequence, the continued development of pregnancy. This complication becomes possible due to the lack of visual contact with the uterus. It is possible to avoid or promptly identify the negative consequences of this type of abortion if you follow the rules of visiting a gynecologist in the post-abortion period, as well as observing a temporary ban on sexual activity for a period approved by a doctor.
Instrumental abortion
Until recently, it was considered the only possible way to terminate a pregnancy artificially. What consequences after an abortion performed by this method should be expected, almost every woman knows from lectures on reproductive health. But first things first.
Under anesthesia, the doctor expands the cervix through which the forceps and curette are inserted. The forceps extract the fetus, and the curette scrapes the inner layer of the uterus. Earlier this operation was carried out “blindly”, but now an increasing number of doctors carry out it under the supervision of ultrasound.
What could be the consequences after an abortion in this way? Let's start with the tool introduction method. The cervix expands artificially , which means there is a risk of cracking and tearing. The endometrium can be scraped to a depth significantly greater than necessary, which leads to damage. The consequences can be a whole gamut of diseases, starting with cervical erosion and ending with the diseases produced by endometriosis.
This list is limited only to those methods of artificial termination of pregnancy that are available to women for up to twelve weeks. However, it is important to know which consequences after an abortion are reversible.
Previously, it was only about the physiological aspects of abortion, however, it is worth mentioning the psychological . As a rule, due to a sharp restructuring of the hormonal background, a woman is inclined toward the development of psychological diseases - aggressiveness or prolonged depression. Therefore, it is important to consult a specialist during this period, even if there are no external signs of the disease.
In relation to what consequences after an abortion are physiologically reversible, it is necessary to consult your doctor. However, it can safely be argued that premature subsequent birth, cervical erosion, primary infertility can be prevented if you carefully follow the recommendations of the post-abortion period and avoid subsequent abortions using reliable methods of contraception.