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The
Abortion Pill
It's the day after and you didn't
take any precautions last night. A month passes and you realise that
this is it. You're pregnant. Can the abortion pill be an option?
Medical Abortion
In this method, a pill is taken to
induce abortion. The medicine mifepristone, known as RU486 in the US, was
introduced in France almost a decade ago, and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
finally approved the "abortion pill" on 28th September, 2000 in the United
States, after a decade of controversy.
Who can take the
abortion pill
You may choose medical abortion if
you are less than 49 days pregnant. If you have serious heart, liver, kidney
problems, blood clotting disorders or HIV, you may not be able to take
the medication.
How to take the
pill
RU-486 can be taken at home or at
a clinic. It opens the cervix, causes mild contractions, softens the uterus
and causes it to dilate to help expel the embryo. Side effects like nausea,
headache and weakness, and bleeding and deep cramps take place after the
second, prostaglandin pill, is taken, a couple of days later. The embryo
is expelled 4 to 24 hours later.
Side effects are normal, but you
need to call your gynaec if you:
-
Soak more than two pads an hour, more
than two hours in a row
-
Bleed heavily for more than 12 hours
in a row
-
Pass clots larger than lemons for two
hours or more
-
Run a temperature over 101.4° F
for more than four hours
-
Feel strong nausea or throw up for more
than four hours
-
Have an allergic reaction to the medicine
After studies were undertaken in developing
nations like India, China and Cuba, which have legalized abortions, it
was found that medical abortion was preferred to surgical abortion. The
only complaint against medical abortion were the side effects and heavy
bleeding.
Follow Up
You need to return a couple of days
later to make sure the abortion is complete. The whole process may take
about a week to 14 days, depending on the medication. If you are still
pregnant after the medical abortion, you could take more medicine or may
have to undergo a surgical abortion. Avoid alcohol, aspirin and anti-inflammatory
painkillers during this period.
Is an Abortion
Painful?
You'll be distinctly uncomfortable
after a surgical abortion and may experience some cramping but it should
not be very painful. A half an hour's rest in the recovery room and a painkiller
should suffice. A medical abortion is more painful, but is preferred as
it means avoiding a surgery. It's important you take care of yourself after
an abortion, and report any feelings of discomfort and pain to your doctor.
Does the foetus
feel pain?
At some stage during the pregnancy
the foetus becomes capable of feeling pain but when exactly this happens
is not known. It's a safe bet that the foetus may not feel pain before
10 to 12 weeks.
Risks
Incomplete Abortion occurs if part
of the pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus after the abortion procedure.
Symptoms include lack of post abortion bleeding and severe cramping. Infection
can be caused by the retention of tissue in the uterus.
Hemorrhage or Excessive Bleeding
can be caused by injury to the uterus during the abortion. Bleeding through
more than one sanitary pad per hour indicates excessive bleeding.
Perforation or Injury to Uterus/Cervix
occurs if an instrument used during the procedure injures the uterus or
cervix. Injuries to the uterus heal by themselves but there is the risk
of injuring other organs when perforation occurs.
Future Fertility can be adversely
effected if complications such as injury to the cervix or fallopian tube
arise during abortion. But if there are no complications, even several
abortions have no effect on future fertility.
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