|
What
is abortion?
Abortion is the termination of pregnancy by
any method (spontaneous or induced) before the
foetus is sufficiently developed to survive
independently. (foetus less than 20 weeks of
pregnancy)
What
is spontaneous abortion?
Spontaneous abortion occurs due to natural
causes like defects in the foetus or defects
in the uterine wall
What
are the legal implications for getting an
induced abortion done?
The legal implications for getting an abortion
done are laid with the Medical Termination of
Pregnancy Act. This Act was framed with the
aim to counter the problem of illegal
abortions in India.
According
to the MTP act, what are the reasons for which
a woman can undergo abortion?
The reasons for which a woman may seek
abortion under the MTP Act are as follows:
(i) Where a pregnant woman has a serious
medical disease and continuation of pregnancy
could endanger her life like:
-
Heart diseases.
-
Severe rise in blood pressure.
-
Uncontrolled vomiting during pregnancy
-
Cervical/ breast cancer.
-
Diabetes mellitus with eye complication
(retinopathy).
-
Epilepsy.
-
Psychiatric illness.
(ii) Where the continuation of pregnancy could
lead to substantial risk to the newborn
leading to serious physical / mental handicaps
examples like
-
Chromosomal abnormalities.
-
Rubella (German measles) viral infection to
mother in first three months.
-
If previous children have congenital
abnormalities.
-
Rh iso-immunisation. l
-
Exposure of the foetus to irradiation.
(iii) Pregnancy resulting of rape.
(iv) Conditions where the socio-economic
status of the mother (family) hampers the
progress of a healthy pregnancy and the birth
of a healthy child.
(v) Failure of Contraceptive Device
irrespective of the method used (natural
methods/ barrier methods/ hormonal methods).
This condition is a unique feature of the
Indian Law. All the pregnancies can be
terminated using this criterion.
Does
a woman require a written consent of her
husband to get an MTP done?
A woman can give her own consent if she is
above 18 years of age, she does not require
the consent of her husband.
Whose
consent is needed if she is below 18 years of
age?
In such cases she will require a written
consent from her guardian.
Which
are institutions that are authorized to
perform an MTP?
Any institutions licensed by the Government
are authorized to perform MTP.
What
are the first trimester methods of abortion?
The first trimester methods of abortion
include:
(i) Cervical dilatation followed by evacuation
of uterus by:
Curettage /Suction evacuation / vacuum
aspiration / Dilatation and evacuation
(ii) Menstrual aspiration (MR)
(iii) Medical Methods
What
is cervical dilatation followed by evacuation?
It is a kind of Surgical abortion done in the
early pregnancy, that is before 12 weeks by
first dilating the cervix, which is done by
introducing hollow metal rods of increasing
diameters and then evacuating the contents of
the uterus mechanically by scraping or by
suction or both. The procedure takes about 15
minutes.
What
are advantages of Cervical dilatation and
evacuation?
The advantages are :
-
A single step procedure.
-
Safe.
-
Possible to carry out Sterilization or
insertion of an intra-uterine device.
-
Can go home on the same day.
-
Can resume working the next day.
What
are the risks associated with Cervical
dilatation and evacuation?
The risks include:
-
Reaction to the drugs used in anesthesia
-
Bleeding
-
Infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes.
-
Accidental perforation of the uterus.
-
Emotional distress.
What
is menstrual aspiration or regulation?
Menstrual aspiration also called minisuction,
miniabortion, vacuum aspiration, lunchtime
abortion which is done between 1 to 3 weeks
after the failure to menstruate. This
procedure is done as an out patient. A thin
plastic tube is inserted into the uterus and
its contents sucked out by negative pressure
created in a syringe. The procedure takes
about 10 minutes to complete.
What
are the advantages of Menstrual Aspiration?
The advantages include:
-
No hospitalization required.
-
Done without anesthesia.
-
Surgical risks are minimal.
-
Person can go home and resume her normal
activities.
What
are the risks associated with Menstrual
Aspiration?
The risks associated include:
What
are medical methods of aborting first
trimester pregnancy?
The main drugs in use today are a group of
drugs known as prostaglandin which can be used
through various routes namely by mouth
(referred to as the Abortion Pill) , by
injection intramuscularly /intravenously or
vaginally. These drugs are used by themselves
or in combination with other drugs.
-
The methotrexate – misoprostol method: A
woman receives an injection of methotrexate.
Between five to seven days later she returns
and inserts suppositories of misoprostol
into her vagina. The pregnancy usually ends
at home within a day or two. The embryo and
other tissue that develops during pregnancy
are passed out through the vagina.
-
The mifepristone – misoprostol method:
Mifepristone also known, as RU-486 is
antiprogesterone. A woman swallows a dose of
mifepristone. She returns in five to seven
days and inserts suppositories of
misoprostol into her vagina. The pregnancy
usually ends at home within four hours. The
embryo and other tissue that develops during
pregnancy are passed out through the vagina.
Does
the Abortion Pill always have to be taken
under medical supervision
Yes, the Abortion Pill must always have to
betaken under medical supervision.
What
are the risks associated with use of medical
methods of abortion?
The risks associated with use of medical
methods include:
-
Mifepristone, Methotrexate and misoprostol
cause nausea and vomiting, diarrhea.
-
Incomplete abortion may require surgical
evacuation.
-
Heavy bleeding , which may continue upto 7
days.
-
Drugs are not easily available and
expensive.
What
are the methods employed for MTP in second
trimester ?
The methods may include medical methods and
surgical methods .
What
is done in case of using medical methods for
aborting second trimester pregnancy?
Medical methods involve the use of
Prostaglandin related drugs which may be given
orally or intravaginally or injected directly
into the uterine cavity.
What
are risks associated with medical methods?
The risks include:
What
are the surgical methods for aborting second
trimester pregnancy?
The surgical methods include: (i) Aspirotomy:
Similar to Dilatation and Evacuation (ii)
Hysterotomy: Opening the uterus and removal of
foetus (iii) Hysterectomy: Removal of the
entire uterus.
What
are the long-term effects of an abortion ?
Women who have had an abortion worry that it
may affect their ability to conceive or bear a
child in the future. They will be relieved to
learn that now it is generally believed that a
single abortion performed in the first 12
weeks of pregnancy does not pose a threat to
future childbearing potential. However, a
recent World Health Organization study has
shown that women who underwent two or more
abortions had a two-to-three times greater
chance of miscarriage, premature delivery, or
low birth weight infants.
|
