An unexpected pregnancy can be overwhelming and produce emotional distress. During this time, there are two best ways to terminate pregnancy: abortion pills and surgical abortion. For pregnancy up to 9 weeks, the pills are the best option one can go for. However, after 9 weeks, surgical abortion becomes the only available option.
This blog explains surgical abortion and how the abortion pill works. It also details eligibility requirements and expectations to help women make informed decisions about early pregnancy abortion. Let’s get into detailed information.
A] What is the Abortion Pill?
The term “abortion pill” refers to medication that helps to terminate the pregnancy without surgery. The procedure primarily uses Mifepristone and Misoprostol medications. On the contrary to surgical abortion methods, pills induce a heavy menstruation period that leads to the abortion. This medication is safe and approved by the FDA and has been used by millions of women worldwide. It functions differently than emergency contraception, also known as the morning-after pill, because it terminates a pregnancy rather than blocking conception.
B] How Does the Abortion Pill Work?
Understanding how the abortion pill works can help to demystify the rumours around it. The process involves two medications working in synergy:
First, the medical staff supervises and gives Mifepristone, to be taken orally. It blocks the progesterone hormone, which is essential for maintaining a pregnancy. Progesterone helps thicken the uterine lining where the fertilised egg implants and grows. Mifepristone blocks the action of progesterone, which prevents the attachment of the fertile egg to the uterine wall.
Patients should take Misoprostol as the second medication at 48 hours after Mifepristone intake. Your healthcare provider will give instructions, either to place between your cheek and gum for dissolution or to insert them inside the vagina. The medication induces intense uterine contractions similar to menstrual cramps.
These muscle contractions help expel the preparatory tissues for pregnancy through the vagina. For most women, the Misoprostol pills start working within 4 to 5 hours and may sometimes require up to 24 hours. Throughout the process, you will experience bleeding and cramps as your body works to empty the uterus.
Medical termination of pregnancy using this combined medication approach leads to successful abortion rates of 95-98%. In case medications fail to terminate the pregnancy, a surgical procedure becomes necessary.
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C] Who Can Take the Abortion Medication?
Abortion medication is the most suitable for women in their initial stages of pregnancy. Generally, this medication for abortion is valid for usage within 9 weeks from the first day of the last menstrual period.
You might be a good candidate for early medical abortion if:
You should not consider the abortion pill if you:
You need to undergo a complete medical assessment to determine eligibility for an early pregnancy termination through medication. A healthcare professional may advise you to undergo a surgical abortion to avoid complications that may arise due to the abortion pill.
D] What to Expect After Taking the Abortion Medication?
Every individual has a different experience with abortion medication. After taking Misoprostol (the second medication), most women start experiencing contractions, cramps, and heavy bleeding.
The menstrual bleeding is heavier, exceeding the normal periods’ flow while containing blood clots. The heavy bleeding lasts for 4 to 6 hours after the usage of both medications but gets lighter as time passes.
The uterine contractions result in cramping that may affect people differently in terms of severity. Most people experience the pain shortly after they consume Misoprostol. Patients commonly report side effects including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness in addition to mild chills and temporary fever. All these symptoms are expected to disappear within 24 hours.
Though these symptoms are a normal part of the termination of pregnancy, if you have an extended episode of heavy bleeding, severe pain unaltered by medication, persistent high fever, or foul-smelling discharge, you should get instant medical care from a healthcare professional near you.
E] Risks and Possible Complications
While early medical abortion is generally safe, there are potential risks to be aware of. Partial abortion marks the most frequent complication because some pregnancy tissue remains inside the uterus. The occurrence of incomplete abortion takes place in 2-5% of abortions assisted by pills, and you might require a follow-up surgical procedure in such a case.
Excessive bleeding is another potential risk, though severe hemorrhage requiring blood transfusion is rare. Infection is also possible but a bit of an uncommon risk for patients who follow their prescribed medication use.
In abortions assisted by medication, the probability of incomplete abortion is slightly higher than surgical termination, but patients experience lower susceptibility to infection or uterine-related injuries. The safety records of both methods are very high as serious complications appear very rare.
Women need to attend follow-up appointments after early pregnancy abortion to ensure full termination of pregnancy and to check for medical complications.
F] Recovery and Aftercare
After abortion, your body will need time to recover. The majority of women resume their activities within 1-2 days after the abortion, depending on how they feel. The following tips can help you recover.
After getting an early medical abortion, your menstrual periods will return within 4 to 8 weeks. It is advised that one should start using contraceptive measures right away because the body restarts the menstrual cycle immediately. This is important to avoid unintentional pregnancy.
Dr. Shreya Prabhoo is a leading Gynaecologist in Andheri practicing for over 13 years. You can contact her for detailed recovery tips and aftercare to get a proper recovery.
G] Alternative Options for Unplanned Pregnancy
While under this blog, we have covered easy pregnancy abortion using medication, but there are multiple options to deal with an unplanned pregnancy.
These include:
H] What is Surgical Abortion, How Does It Work?
Surgical abortion is the medical procedure of terminating pregnancy, which typically takes place after 9 weeks. The removal of pregnancy tissues from the uterus occurs through either vacuum suction techniques or surgical instruments. The surgeon performs abortion under local or general anesthesia, completely based on the medical situation. During the surgery, the surgeon uses gentle cervical dilators to proceed with removing pregnancy tissue. The procedure is highly effective and safe, with a success rate of 100%, and takes a short time frame to complete. A patient needs to follow complete before and after care after this medical operation to guarantee safety and proper recovery.
Lastly, people need to choose their options carefully based on their situation as well as their plans. Professional healthcare consultations help in making decisions and organisations working with early pregnancy care can provide ongoing support and resources.
Conclusion
Missed periods are something that indicates pregnancy and require instant attention to make informed decisions. Whether you choose medication abortion or other options, consulting a professional is a must in making an informed decision. Prioritising your health and well-being is essential for a smooth recovery and future reproductive care. Seek a gynecologist to get personalised advice.
Dr. Shreya Prabhoo (MBBS, DGO, DNB, MRCOG, FICOG, MNAMS) is a highly respected Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist based in Mumbai.