Medical disruption of pregnancy terms. What is a medical method? Factors that affect the recovery of menstruation

Medical abortion (pharmaceutical abortion) is not a method of birth control, but a serious medical procedure which can lead to various kinds of complications. Its essence lies in the fact that a woman at the appointed time must take hormonal pills for medical abortion and provoking the expulsion of the fetal egg from the uterine cavity.

According to WHO, such an abortion is recognized as the most gentle method, but it does not always give a guaranteed result. With an increase in the duration of pregnancy, the effectiveness of the procedure is significantly reduced.

If a woman wishes to terminate a pregnancy, preference is always given to the most effective ways- medication, or (for example, curettage is ideal in the presence of a placental polyp).

Is it possible to have a medical abortion at 7 weeks, the eighth or more later dates? The best option is 14 days after the delay. The reason is that after 6 weeks fertilized egg already well enough attached to the wall of the uterus, so the likelihood of its preservation increases. For example, if a medical abortion is done at week 8, then its effectiveness rarely exceeds 88%.

Contraindications and indications

There are no strict indications for medical abortion. The woman herself must decide whether to continue or terminate the pregnancy.

Relative medical indications to its interruption are:

  • diseases that threaten the full development of the baby;
  • severe genetic, somatic, infectious diseases;
  • taking drugs that can cause deformities and disrupt full development fetus.

Social indications:

  • minor age;
  • rape;
  • the absence of a husband;
  • disability I or II in an existing child;
  • serving time in prison.

With such a rather serious procedure as abortion, the main contraindications to abortion with medications will be:

  • allergy to drugs used for abortion;
  • fibroma or;
  • severe renal or hepatic insufficiency;
  • Availability ;
  • diseases of the blood coagulation system;
  • anemia;
  • taking blood thinners;
  • high arterial pressure and etc.

What is the procedure

In the usual sense medical interruption pregnancy is not like an abortion: a woman comes to the clinic, takes pills under the guidance of a doctor, and then she simply begins to have heavy “menstruation”, during which the fetal egg is expelled along with the blood.

Preparation

At the first appointment, the gynecologist explains to the woman all the contraindications, risks, possible complications and how medical abortion is done in general terms, as well as what to expect after it.

Laboratory and instrumental diagnostics

Before taking this step and deciding on a medical, vacuum or other type of abortion, a woman must go through enough a large number of research:

  • General (clinical) blood test , urine, ( chorionic gonadotropin person), whose level on early dates is proof of pregnancy. An analysis for syphilis (RW) is also given, an ECG is done.
  • ultrasound . During ultrasound confirms the presence of a fetal egg in the uterus, excludes ectopic pregnancy, as well as tumor formations of the uterus and ovaries.
  • Inspection by narrow-profile specialists . Their consultation is necessary if a woman has any serious illness. It may also be necessary to adjust the intake of medications regularly used by the patient so that medications for medication interruption developing pregnancy, proved to be effective.
  • Checking the blood coagulation system . For this, a coagulogram is usually prescribed, because if the blood does not clot well, then a strong one can occur.

Direct preparation for abortion

If no contraindications were found during the medical examination and laboratory diagnostic examination, the doctor gives the following recommendations:

  • For a week, exclude alcohol, smoking, taking anticoagulants and some other drugs.
  • On the day of taking the first dose of the drug, food should be easily digestible.
  • For the entire period of the abortion (3-6 days), care should be taken that someone, in case of a deterioration in the condition of the woman, takes care of her and maintains household to myself.

How is a medical abortion performed?

How is a medical abortion done in a private or public clinic?

The procedure takes place in 3 stages:

  1. In the doctor's office.
  2. At home.
  3. Control visit to the doctor.

In the doctor's office, a woman who decides to have an abortion by medical means takes 3 tablets of mifepristone (600 mg) in the presence of a gynecologist, and then remains under his supervision for 2 hours.

Usually, before the patient is allowed to go home, the doctor dispenses prostaglandin-containing misoprostol tablets, leaves her his contact information, and schedules her next clinic visit. This is done because he needs to observe how a woman has an abortion, whether medications have desired action whether possible complications develop.

At home, after 1.5-2 days, the patient takes 2 tablets of misoprostol (400 mcg), which increases the contraction of the muscles of the uterus. During the termination of pregnancy, some women experience severe pain. In this case, you should use medications to relieve pain.

How many days can a medical abortion last? On average, up to 6-7 days. It is at this time that blood loss is most significant, and the discharge is plentiful.

The control examination is scheduled for 3 and 7-14 days. If, according to the ultrasound and hCG analysis, the pregnancy is preserved, vacuum aspiration or classic curettage is done.

What to do after a medical abortion

If a woman who has recently given birth has had a medical abortion, how many weeks can she not breastfeed? According to most experts, one should refrain from breastfeeding for 2 weeks because drugs used in medical abortion penetrate into breast milk, and their effect on the baby's body has not been studied.

In general, the following recommendations should be followed:

  • Avoid heavy physical activity lifting weights during bleeding.
  • The first month after the transferred medical abortion, in case of menstruation, use only pads and temporarily abandon tampons and menstrual caps.
  • During the entire period of vaginal discharge, you should not take a bath, go to the pool, etc.
  • Until how many weeks is sexual rest shown? Sex after medical abortion should be postponed for 3 weeks - 1 month. After interruption, a new pregnancy can occur immediately with the resumption of sexual activity. Therefore, it is important to use .

How to behave reproductive system after a medical termination of pregnancy has been made, it is impossible to predict: during the next menstruation, the chest and lower abdomen hurt more than usual, while others lengthen menstruation, etc.

In general, cycle changes are rarely observed, and if the abortion went without complications, then the pattern of blood discharge during menstruation after it is the same as it was before medical abortion.

Complications

Although considered the least dangerous procedure, abortion can lead to a number of complications:

  • Missed abortion . This state occurs if the procedure is performed for a period of more than 6 weeks, as well as when taking medications that reduce the effectiveness of mifepristone.
  • incomplete abortion . In this case, fragments of the fetal egg remain inside the uterus, which can lead to various negative consequences, including death. An incomplete abortion can be suspected with a sudden cessation of bleeding, when a fragment of the fetal egg clogs the cervical canal, as well as with a sharp increase in discharge during the termination of pregnancy with the help of medications.
  • Crash in hormonal system . Pregnancy is a hormonal change in the body. Therefore, even in the early stages, its interruption causes a failure of this system, which can be perceived by the body as a stressful state. For example, as a result of this, after an abortion performed with the help of medications, the chest may hurt, menstruation may be disturbed, or chronic diseases may worsen.
  • Complications associated with taking drugs . After taking drugs during medical abortion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, the temperature rises, general weakness sets in, sensations of hot flashes. Dizziness, a sharp drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, allergic reactions are also possible.
  • Uterine bleeding . Heavy bleeding can lead to significant blood loss up to loss of consciousness. Therefore, if bleeding at home during medical abortion increases and exceeds the expected amount of blood released, you should immediately contact your doctor.

Can a placental polyp occur after a honeybort? Unfortunately, yes, if all the particles of the ovum have not been removed.

How to avoid complications

To avoid complications, including the appearance of a placental polyp and copious excretion blood, on the eve of termination of pregnancy by medication, it is necessary to undergo a thorough examination. At the same time, there is no need to hide the facts of the use of any drugs, the presence of a placental polyp after a previously performed medical abortion, as well as serious illnesses which may be a contraindication to the procedure.

The decision to terminate a pregnancy with medication or any other method should be weighed, taking into account all the pros and cons, and not made on the basis of emotions. It is also important to take into account the possible psychological consequences.

Pros and cons of medical abortion

Obvious advantages compared to other types of abortion:

  • minimal trauma to the walls of the uterus;
  • abortion can be performed already from the first or second day of delayed menstruation;
  • fast state recovery;
  • at early terms - 95% efficiency.

Possible disadvantages of the procedure:

  • high risk bleeding;
  • preservation of pregnancy in 5-22% of cases (depending on the duration of pregnancy);
  • a large number of contraindications.

What is better for a placental polyp: medical abortion or curettage? IN this case scraping, because during this procedure it will be removed.

Medical termination of pregnancy is not a method of birth control - there are methods of contraception for this. However, in the event of some circumstances as a result of which a woman decides to have an abortion, this method will be the most gentle. To minimize the risk of possible complications, it is necessary to undergo an examination and follow all the doctor's recommendations.

Useful video about medical abortion

Answers

There are several ways to terminate an unwanted pregnancy - with the help of surgical procedures or using pharmacological agents. It is easier for a woman to survive a pill abortion both physically and psychologically. This method is considered the safest, but it can be accessed only in the early stages. The woman who took tough decision, you need to know about the nuances and risks of the abortive method.

You should carefully weigh the pros and cons before making a choice.

What is an abortion pill? This is the name of the procedure for terminating an early pregnancy with pills. Manipulation is also called pharmacological or medical abortion. Special "pills" were invented by French pharmacists in the early 80s. Experts decided to turn the idea of ​​​​how to get rid of unwanted pregnancy in the early stages, and came up with painless method. While the fetus is small, you can do without surgical procedures. Pharmaceutical development was tested for a long time to understand how it works, and for how long it is possible to terminate a pregnancy with a pill with minimal risks. After six years of clinical research, "pills" began to be actively used in medical practice.

How is a medical abortion performed? Simplified, it looks like this: if a woman wants to get rid of an unwanted pregnancy, she takes a “pill” - and the problem is solved. Tablets provoke uterine contractions, block the production of progesterone, after which the fetus is rejected. The success of the manipulation is evidenced by post-abortion bleeding. It is similar to menstruation.

In fact, the procedure is not as simple as it seems. There are a number of nuances that are important to consider. You need to know how long it is possible to terminate a pregnancy with pills, what drugs to use, and take into account contraindications. A pregnant girl should contact the clinic to clarify all the nuances.

Drinking abortion pills without first consulting a doctor is strictly prohibited.: can be applied irreparable harm to your health. The risks are especially high in case of violation deadlines medical abortion.

Optimal time

The first thing you need to know when deciding on a pharmacist is how long it can be done: medical abortion has clear boundaries. All features of medical abortion (including timing) are regulated by the protocol drawn up by the Ministry of Health. In Russia, up to 9 weeks, you can have a pill abortion. This period corresponds to 63 days of gestation. In European countries, the possibility of medical termination of pregnancy has been reduced to 49 days, which is equal to seven weeks.

It will take a lot of effort to recover

It is no coincidence that medical abortion is limited to seven to nine weeks. At the eighth week, the embryo is already moving into a new stage - the fetus. This means that he gradually takes on a human form. From this moment, the formation of placental vessels begins. Even if you do not consider the ethical point, getting rid of a late pregnancy with the help of pills is impossible due to the high risks of heavy bleeding. The blood loss can be so great that it can be fatal.

Having made a difficult decision, you need to find out how long the procedure is done in a particular clinic. Doctors think that optimal time holding - the fourth or fifth week. Minimum term reduces risks to zero and guarantees high efficiency manipulation.

Benefits of medical interruption

Tablet abortion is considered the most in a safe way solving the problem of the onset, but unwanted conception. The main advantage of this procedure is low level stress. It is much easier to take a pill than to decide on curettage. Pill abortion is not a traumatic procedure, which is important for a woman who is in a difficult situation. Not always a girl does not want to give birth due to some of her personal beliefs: there is a situation when the pregnancy cannot be maintained due to the patient's health. Among the indications for interruption is a high probability of the birth of a baby with genetic diseases. In such cases, the medical method of abortion is the best option so that the woman does not get hung up on the problem. The procedure is non-invasive. Everything happens as if the pregnancy was interrupted as a result of a miscarriage.

Pharmaceutical abortion, in addition to psychological aspect, there are other advantages. The main ones are:

  • high efficiency (up to 98%);
  • painlessness;
  • no possibility of injury to the reproductive organs;
  • low risk of post-abortion infections;
  • exclusion of the possibility of contracting hepatitis or HIV;
  • lack of anesthesia.

Medical abortion recommended for first pregnancy. The effect of the pharmabort on the female body is minimal. Naturally, if the terms of the procedure are observed, and the pills for terminating early pregnancy are selected by a qualified doctor. The likelihood that a woman can easily become pregnant after a honeybort is high, while after a surgical interruption there is always a risk of reproductive dysfunction, up to infertility.

Preparation for manipulation

Before terminating a pregnancy with medication, you will need to undergo a series of tests. The first step is to go to the gynecologist. He will conduct initial inspections. To obligatory diagnostic studies relate:

  • vaginal swabs;
  • determination of blood group/rhesus;
  • tests for syphilis, HIV, hepatitis.

Carrying out the procedure

How is a medical abortion performed? Definitely in a hospital setting. The principle of medical abortion is based on drugs of different pharmaceutical groups. Two types of pills are immediately involved from abortion in the early stages.

  • progesterone antagonists. Drugs reduce the level of progesterone in the blood fluid. The result is destruction corpus luteum, necrosis of the fetal egg, rejection of the embryo. There are many names of abortion pills. It is not necessary to remember which pills can terminate a pregnancy. It is important to know that the primary drug is the one in which active ingredient is mifepristone. The description of the "work" of the funds is the same. Specific abortion pills are effective for how long - you need to check with your doctor, as there are small nuances. For example, some are effective only up to the sixth week, the second - up to the ninth.
  • Prostaglandins. The peculiarity of any drug in this group is that it starts the process of rejection of the embryo. How does medical abortion occur in the second stage? The drugs stimulate the process of opening the cervical canal. The myometrium and uterus contract strongly, which contributes to the release of the remnants of the dead fetal egg. Derivative drugs for early termination of pregnancy in Europe are used differently, in Russia - only Misoprostol.

Abortion pills must be selected by a gynecologist. It is important to find a specialist whom a woman will trust. For medical termination of pregnancy, the hospital will have to visit twice. First, the doctor gives the first pill, observes the patient for three to four hours. If everything went well, she is allowed to go home and given time to continue the manipulation. You need to return to the hospital to take medication interruption pills from another pharmaceutical group after about 36 to 48 hours.

On the third day after the completion of the procedure, a control examination should be carried out. Two weeks later, the woman is examined again, an ultrasound is always done. Only then can we conclude that the procedure was successful.

Is it possible to carry out the procedure at home

Taking drugs - a blow to the hormonal system

Even in the early stages of the house, it is undesirable to carry out a pill abortion. The procedure must be supervised by a doctor. He determines the dosage of drugs, monitors the patient's condition, checks whether the abortion has occurred and whether it was complete. If it happens profuse bleeding, the medical facility will provide professional assistance. For medical termination of pregnancy, you will have to return to the hospital, which is not very convenient. However, it is important to take medication interruption pills under medical supervision, so convenience issues are secondary here.

If a woman still decides to have a pharmacological abortion at home, then there should be a person next to her who, if necessary, will call an ambulance. Before taking the medicine, be sure to say: "I'm taking a pill called ...". Close person should know what pills for medical abortion the woman took, so that in the event of a critical situation, tell the doctors what the drugs were called.

Body reaction

Medical abortion drugs cause bleeding. This is a natural reaction of the body to the rejection of the fetus. How long the bleeding lasts and what character it is depends on the duration of the medical abortion. The earlier the manipulation is carried out, the better. If the procedure is done before the fourth week, then bleeding most similar to normal menstruation. Normal discharge after a medical abortion lasts seven to nine days. There may be moderate drawing pains, as before critical days. When the procedure is done late, the discharge is observed longer. They are profuse and painful.

The pills used to terminate a pregnancy affect the general well-being of a woman. The body can react to the procedure with a number of unpleasant symptoms:

  • general weakness;
  • dizziness;
  • nausea;
  • vomiting;
  • high temperature;
  • diarrhea.

Medical abortion in the early stages is usually easy. Whereas in those patients who delayed the decision, there is a whole list of reactions in severe form. You need to tell your doctor about them. If unpleasant manifestations do not go away for a long time or are too pronounced, post-abortion therapy may be required. It aims to relieve symptoms and regulate hormonal balance.

Recovery

It takes about a month to recover from the procedure. In order for the recovery to be successful and fast, you need to follow a number of rules:

  • do not lift weights;
  • exclude physical activity;
  • do not take a hot bath;
  • do not visit the bath, sauna, swimming pool;
  • do not swim in open water;
  • avoid hypothermia.

During the recovery period, it is important to pay close attention strengthening immunity. A balanced diet will help to increase the protective functions of the body and vitamin complexes. Vitamins should be selected by a doctor. Alcohol should be abandoned. In the first month, you can not use tampons, only pads are allowed. Recommended to avoid intimacy until the first menstruation ends.

In the first six months, it is important to exclude the possibility of pregnancy. It will become a serious burden for the body. With the question of selecting reliable contraceptives, you need to contact your gynecologist.

Possible Complications

Although drug interruption pregnancy and is considered the safest, but a woman may experience side effect tablets. Complications arising after medical abortion are dangerous to health and threaten the loss of reproductive function. The risks largely depend on how many weeks the interruption takes. If the procedure is carried out at an early stage, then the consequences rarely occur. The longer the gestational period, the more dangerous it is to take abortion pills. Complications include:

  • Blood loss. After the procedure, the presence heavy bleeding dangerously large losses of blood fluid. If you do not see a doctor in time, the consequences can be irreversible - even fatal. At strong secretions, which threaten a large loss of blood fluid, the doctor prescribes hemostatic drugs after an abortion. In an emergency, a blood transfusion may be required.
  • Allergic reactions. An allergy occurs to the components of the drug that the patient took to solve the problem of unwanted pregnancy. Meet different manifestations allergies: it depends individual features, "sensitivity" of the immune system.
  • Strong pains. After manipulation, a persistent pain syndrome may be observed. Usually, such a complication occurs when medical abortion is done late - closer to the ninth week. If the pain is so severe that it is impossible to withstand it, you should immediately consult a doctor. Pain syndrome may indicate an inflammatory process that has arisen due to particles of the embryo remaining in the uterus.
  • Hormonal disbalance. Immediately after conception hormonal background women begin to change. Pills disrupt the natural process of change. This can cause hormonal imbalance. “Knocked down” hormones can lead to infertility in the future, so the condition needs to be corrected.

Additional factors

Important to choose suitable method protection

Incomplete interruption. The procedure may not full effect, if it was carried out at a later date in the time period allotted for the abortion. Every week the fruit grows and "strengthens" its position. After rejection, particles of the embryo may remain in the uterus, which leads to inflammation, infectious diseases. Because of them, it may be lost reproductive function. Incomplete rejection is usually indicated by severe pain and severe fever. Ultrasound can confirm incomplete interruption. After diagnosis, curettage of the uterine cavity or vacuum aspiration is performed. Such procedures are an additional burden on the body and severe stress for a woman.

It happens that the pills do not work: the pregnancy progresses. Doctors diagnose only 1% of such cases. If the patient insists on interruption, then they turn to invasive methods. Women who change their minds and wish to continue the pregnancy should be aware that the drugs could have a teratogenic effect on the fetus. This means that there is a high probability that the baby will be born with deviations.

Contraindications

Medical abortion has many contraindications, so not every woman can turn to this method. Only a doctor can determine contraindications for medical abortion. He draws conclusions after examination, analysis, anamnesis. Contraindications include:

  • ectopic pregnancy;
  • acute infections of the genital organs;
  • large myoma;
  • porphyria;
  • anemia;
  • poor blood clotting;
  • long-term use of glucocorticoids;
  • exhaustion;
  • kidney disease;
  • liver disease;
  • diabetes;
  • lactation period.


Medabort is indeed the safest among modern abortion methods. If you know how long you can do it, then you can not be afraid of medical abortion: the likelihood of complications is minimal. It is not worth delaying the decision, otherwise you will have to turn to the surgical method, which is much more dangerous than the medical one, and is psychologically much more difficult to tolerate.

Medical abortion is the use of two different drugs to end a pregnancy: mifepristone and misoprostol.

The doctor prescribes and gives the first pill, Mifepristone, to be taken at the clinic. The action of mifepristone is the effect of progesterone at the receptor level. Pregnancy needs a hormone called progesterone in order for the fetus to grow normally. Mifepristone blocks a woman's own progesterone. During this, the doctor will also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.

The second medicine, misoprostol, is used 6 to 48 hours later, usually at home. This medicine causes cramping and bleeding to empty the uterus. This process is very similar to an early miscarriage.

This method very efficient. For women who are 6 weeks pregnant or less, this method works about 98 out of 100 times.

When can this procedure be done?

You can usually have a medical abortion up to 42 days (10 weeks) after the first day of your last period. If 43 or more days have passed since your last period, you can have an abortion by other methods at the clinic to end the pregnancy.

Why do people choose medical abortion?

The woman herself can choose the method of abortion, depending on personal preferences and the situation. With medical abortion, some people like that it is not necessary to have the procedure in a doctor's office.

You can have an abortion at home or in another convenient place. The woman herself decides who she wants to be with during her abortion, or can do it alone. Because medical abortion is similar to a miscarriage, many women feel more "natural" and less invasive. A doctor can help a woman decide which type of abortion is best for her.

Research on this method shows that if a woman takes the first drug but not the second, the abortion pill is less likely to work. Therefore, if a woman started the abortion process with an abortion pill but then changes her mind about doing it, you should contact your doctor or nurse to talk about the next steps and what to expect.

Using misoprostol alone to induce abortions will be successful in 90% of cases.

Some women try to have an abortion by placing sharp or dirty objects into the uterus or punching the abdomen. It is very life-threatening because there is a very high risk of injury. internal organs women, infection, heavy bleeding and even death.

For many women, terminating a pregnancy is a difficult decision. When a woman cannot discuss abortion or alternatives with her doctor, discuss it with good friend or relative. It is recommended that any young girl talk to her parents or other adults whom she trusts with her situation, her decision and the abortion process.

How medical abortion works

Misoprostol for medical abortion works best in the first 6 weeks of pregnancy. After that, there is increased risk complications and the need medical care. Misoprostol is used to induce uterine contractions. As a result, the uterus excludes pregnancy. A woman may experience painful cramps, vaginal blood loss greater than normal menstruation, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. There is a risk of severe bleeding, for which you need to see a doctor.

The probability of a successful abortion with misoprostol is 90%. Misoprostol is available in pharmacies in almost all countries.

The experience and risk of abortions caused by misoprostol is similar to that of spontaneous miscarriage. Miscarriage occurs spontaneously in 15-20% of all pregnancies. Treatment of complications is the same as for spontaneous abortion (miscarriage). The tactics of treatment will be the same as with a spontaneous miscarriage.

Before you make a medical abortion procedure, a woman needs to make sure that she is pregnant. It is necessary to do a laboratory pregnancy test and undergo an ultrasound scan.

Medical abortion should only be used if the woman is 100% sure she wants to terminate the pregnancy. Before making an abortion, a woman must necessarily conduct an ultrasound scan, since ultrasound shows the localization of the pregnancy in order to make sure that it is uterine and shows the duration (number of weeks) of the woman's pregnancy.

This method should not be used after 6 or more weeks of pregnancy.

Six weeks pregnant means 42 days (6 weeks) since last menstrual cycle. If a woman thinks that she is pregnant for more than six weeks, or if the ultrasound shows it, then this method of abortion is contraindicated. The medicine still works, but the risk of heavy bleeding, severe pain, and complications increase with the lengthening of the pregnancy.

Procedure algorithm

First, a woman is examined to determine the possibility of this type of medical abortion. You should not terminate a pregnancy with this method if the woman has one of the following conditions: ectopic pregnancy, polycystic ovaries, IUD, corticosteroid use, adrenal dysfunction, anemia, bleeding disorders or use of anticoagulants, asthma, liver or kidney disease, heart disease, or high blood pressure pressure. Antibiotics must be taken during this procedure to prevent infection.

Mifepristone is taken during the first visit to the doctor. Mifepristone blocks progesterone, causing destruction of the lining of the uterus, preventing the possibility of continuing the pregnancy.

Misoprostol tablets are taken orally or inserted vaginally 36 to 72 hours after taking mifepristone. The pills will cause contractions and force out the fetus. This process usually takes several hours or up to several days.

A physical examination is done two weeks later to complete the abortion and check for complications.

Side effects and risks

Side effects and risks include the following:

  • spasms;
  • nausea;
  • vomit;
  • diarrhea;
  • heavy bleeding;
  • infection.

The procedure fails in about 8-10% of cases where an additional surgical abortion procedure is required to complete the abortion.

This method of abortion is contraindicated in the presence of such diseases and conditions:

  • anemia;
  • bleeding disorders:
  • liver diseases;
  • kidney disease;
  • convulsive syndrome;
  • acute inflammatory bowel disease;
  • when using an intrauterine device (IUD).

After taking the first dose of misoprostol, the patient should expect bleeding and convulsions. Bleeding usually starts within four hours of taking the tablets, but can sometimes occur later. Bleeding is often the very first sign of an abortion. If the abortion continues, the bleeding and seizures become more severe. Bleeding is often heavier than normal periods and there may be clots. How longer pregnancy the more severe the convulsions and bleeding. If the abortion is completed, bleeding and convulsions decrease. The moment of abortion can be seen with a peak of more severe blood loss and pain and cramps.

Bleeding after an abortion

Bleeding continues 1-3 weeks after the abortion, but sometimes shorter or longer. Every woman's body is different. A normal menstrual period usually returns after four to six weeks.

Some women bleed without abortion. Therefore, it is important that the woman is convinced that the abortion actually occurred. It may take two to three weeks before a pregnancy test becomes negative. Therefore, you need to undergo an ultrasound a week after the abortion to make sure that the pregnancy is over. It is normal for some blood and tissue to remain in the uterus after 7-10 days; it will come out with the next menstrual period. As long as there is no fever, pain, heavy bleeding, or vaginal discharge remaining in the uterus, this is not a problem.

Cases when you need to go to the hospital

You need to go to the hospital if:

  1. If there is heavy bleeding. Severe bleeding is bleeding that does not stop for 2-3 hours or more, and absorbs more than 2-3 centimeters of a sanitary pad per hour. Feeling dizzy can be a sign of too much blood loss and means that there may be a danger to the woman's health.
  2. If heavy bleeding does not stop after 2-3 hours, this may be a sign of an incomplete abortion (the remains of the fetus are still in the uterus), which needs treatment. This can happen a couple of hours after taking the drugs, but also two weeks after the abortion.
  3. If fever occurs. Chills are normal by-effect misoprostol, as well as some fever. However, if a woman has fever(> 38 degrees Celsius) for more than 24 hours or she has a temperature above 39 degrees, you need to see a doctor because an infection may occur as a result incomplete abortion, and it will take further treatment(with antibiotics and/or vacuum aspiration).

If the method didn't work

When there was no bleeding at all after taking the medication, or there was a little bleeding, but the pregnancy is still ongoing, this means that the abortion did not occur. There is a slight increased risk birth defects such as deformities of the legs and arms, and problems with nervous system fetus if the pregnancy continues after an attempted abortion with these medicines. Because of this low risk of birth defects, vacuum aspiration should be performed if pregnancy is not terminated after taking these medications.

If the abortion was incomplete, the woman may need dilatation and curettage (D&C) or vacuum aspiration, during which the doctor will remove any remaining tissue from the uterus.

After the method

Vomiting and nausea may occur after taking mifepristone. If you vomit within 1 hour of taking the pill, tell your doctor as soon as possible, as you may need to take the pill again.

The second medicine is misoprostol tablets, which are placed in the vagina. They can be placed in the vagina on their own, or with the help of medical worker. You should try to insert them as high into the vagina as possible. Do not worry about the exact position of the tablets in the vagina; it is not important for them that they are in a certain place in order to be effective.

The woman will also be given some antibiotics, pain medication, instructions for use, and advice on how to take care of herself.

Misoprostol tablets cause convulsions and bleeding in a woman. This usually starts 2 hours after using misoprostol, but it can start sooner.

Bleeding and convulsions usually last for several hours, and the patient will likely need pain relief at this stage.

During an abortion, a woman may see large blood clots or tissue. The fabric will be larger and recognizable on more high terms pregnancy. A 10-week-old fetus is the size of a large grape and a woman can recognize its shape. If the patient is concerned about what she may see when the abortion occurs, it is worth discussing this with the attending physician.

Most women terminate their pregnancy within 4 or 5 hours of taking medication. For others, it may be faster or take longer. Almost all women terminate their pregnancy within a few days.

It is normal to have bleeding up to 4 weeks after an abortion, it is recommended to use sanitary napkin to make it easier to track bleeding.

An IUD can be inserted by a doctor as soon as the bleeding stops and a pregnancy test shows negative result, or when an ultrasound shows no pregnancy. Oral contraceptives may be taken after the bleeding has ended, but they will not be completely safe for the first month. Use additional contraceptives such as condoms for extra protection during the first month.

Life circumstances often do not turn out the way we want, and dictate their own conditions. Sometimes pregnancy is unwanted or contraindicated for health reasons. In such a situation, there is only one way out - abortion.

In early pregnancy, doctors often use medical abortion, which is considered the safest for a woman's health. In the article we will talk about how true this information is, and what consequences the use of abortion pills can have.

And now let's dwell on this in more detail.

Drugs used for early abortion

The first drugs for medical abortion were invented in France at the beginning of the last century, today the country remains one of the main leaders in the production of drugs for abortion. Medical abortion is always performed under careful observation the attending physician, self-administration of drugs can be dangerous for a woman's health and lead to infertility. Please note that medical abortion is allowed to be done at the earliest possible date - up to 41 days from the beginning of the last menstruation. After that, other methods of abortion are used.

The main advantages of medical abortion are:

  • Minimal risk of infertility. Drugs, unlike curettage, do not injure the uterine mucosa, so the risk of infertility is significantly reduced.
  • No complications. Surgical methods abortions are often fraught with the development of inflammatory processes, cervical injuries, and with medical abortion, the likelihood of complications is minimal.
  • Ambulatory mode. With the medical method, hospitalization of the patient in the hospital is not required. Reception hormonal drugs leads to the fact that the embryo dies, the uterus contracts and the fetus is brought out. The body recovers quickly after such a procedure, the very next day a woman can return to her normal lifestyle.

Medicines that are used for medical termination of pregnancy are not commercially available; you can buy them only on the prescription of a doctor. The drugs are based on antigestagens, they are also called antiprogestins - this is a group of biologically active substances that suppress the action of natural progestogens at the receptor level. necessary for and ensuring its vital activity, suppressing it with special pills, a woman stimulates the rejection and death of the embryo.

The most popular antiprogestin on this moment mifegin or mifepristone is considered, which is used at a dosage of 600 mg once (3 tablets), the drug acts for three days. 36-48 hours after taking antiprogestins, prostaglandins are prescribed, for example, at a dosage of 400 mg. (2 tablets). While taking medication, a woman should be under the supervision of a doctor.


The list of drugs for medical abortion looks like this:

  • Mifepristone
  • Mifeprex
  • Mytholian
  • Pencrofton
  • Mifegin
  • Misoprostol

The active substance in all tablets is mifepristone, they differ from each other by the manufacturer, and, accordingly, by quality and efficiency.

Spontaneous miscarriage occurs within a week after taking the pills. The doctor controls the completeness of the miscarriage with the help of ultrasound. The cost of abortion drugs depends on the manufacturer, for example, the Russian drug Mifepristone is cheaper than French Mifegin or Chinese Mifepristone 72. On average, the price of these drugs ranges from 1000 to 5000 rubles. Every woman who decides to have a medical abortion should understand that the unauthorized use of drugs can cause serious side effects, so self-medication in this case is ineffective.

Carrying out scheme

Medical termination of pregnancy is not as simple a process as many might think. In fact, it is carried out in several stages and requires careful preparation.

  1. Survey. First of all, the doctor should conduct an examination, including gynecological examination and ultrasound to determine exact date pregnancy. Before the procedure, the doctor must make sure that the woman has no contraindications to the use of tablets. The patient is introduced to the principle of operation of drugs and the technique of abortion, she must clearly understand the features and side effects of the procedure. After that, a written agreement is signed for the manipulation.
  2. main stage. First, a woman under the supervision of a doctor takes pills that cause rejection of the embryo and prepare the uterus for its expulsion. Within a few hours after the procedure, the woman is at the day hospital and, in the absence of side effects, is allowed to go home.
  3. Completion. After 1.5-2 days, the next drug is taken, which starts the process of expulsion of the fetal egg. Within two hours after taking the pills, the woman is under the supervision of a doctor.

Performance definition

36-48 hours after the procedure, the doctor does a control ultrasound, makes sure that there is no stagnation of blood in the uterus. After two weeks, it is necessary to undergo a second examination by a gynecologist and again do an ultrasound scan to make sure the procedure was successful and to exclude incomplete expulsion of the fetal egg from the uterus. In this case, the woman is assigned manual scraping.

Possibility of procedure failure

Each country sets its own deadlines for legal medical abortion, but you should understand that the higher the term at which the abortion is performed, the more likely it is that you will have to do a second purge. In the US, medical abortion is allowed up to 7 weeks, in Britain there are no such clear restrictions, there are different rules, in some cases, you can do up to 8 weeks, sometimes up to 9-13 and even up to 24 weeks.

In Russia, it is believed that medical abortion is best done before 6 weeks, sometimes up to 9 weeks, but most doctors do not want to take on such a responsibility. In their opinion, late medical abortion can cause serious side effects, such as bleeding or inflammation in the uterus caused by the remnants of the placenta. Therefore, at a later date, additional cleaning is mandatory. It turns out that what used to be a woman turns to a gynecologist, the higher the effectiveness of medical abortion, and the longer the term, the lower the effectiveness of the procedure and the greater the likelihood of complications.

At the first abortion, the risk of incomplete termination of pregnancy is higher. You can see this on the control ultrasound. With an increase in the gestational age, the possibility of maintaining a pregnancy increases, this can be tracked at a follow-up examination 1.5 - 2 weeks after the abortion. In general, studies show that partial removal of the ovum occurs in 3% -5% of cases, and pregnancy is maintained in no more than 1% of cases of the total number of medical abortions.

Contraindications and side effects

As with any medical procedure, complications can occur with medical abortion. They are quite rare, but every woman should know consequences of the procedure:

  • continuation of pregnancy. In 1%-2% of cases, abortion may not occur.
  • Strong.
  • Abundant uterine bleeding . May develop due to incomplete removal fertilized egg.
  • Fever, chills, weakness.
  • Nausea,. In such cases, the doctor may decide to re-use the medication.
  • Aggravation chronic diseases genitourinary system.
  • Hormonal disbalance.
  • Inflammation of the uterus and appendages. Sometimes it occurs due to the spread of infection from the urinary tract. At the same time, the temperature rises, the stomach hurts a lot, discharge appears.
  • Problems with uterine repair, for example, hematometra (blood in the uterus) or subinvolution in the uterus (delayed organ recovery). There are problems with the cycle, abdominal pain.
  • Prolonged bleeding, which can last up to 2 weeks, is associated with hormonal imbalance. Approximately 3% -5% of women after a pill abortion have a cycle disorder, with a conventional abortion, the percentage rises to 12% -15%. The reason for this phenomenon is considered to be neuroendocrine disorders due to a violation of the ability of the endometrium to recover. In women who have given birth, the cycle is restored within 4 months, in those who have not given birth - six months.

Exist certain contraindications for medical abortion, so the woman must first be examined by a gynecologist. Doctors note situations when a woman takes pills on her own, after which life-threatening complications arise. For example, it passes, just like normal, but in this case, medical abortion is contraindicated. Taking pills is fraught with rupture fallopian tube and death, or best case, infertility. Below highlight the main contraindications To medical abortion you should know about:

  • or suspicion of it.
  • Renal and adrenal insufficiency.
  • Diseases associated with impaired blood clotting.
  • Inflammatory processes of the genitourinary system.
  • Myoma of the uterus.
  • Long-term use of corticosteroids.

Failure to comply with contraindications often leads to unpredictable consequences and can be fatal, therefore, before starting the procedure, go through full examination see a qualified gynecologist and read information about medical abortion.

Negative consequences

At such an early stage, the decision to terminate the pregnancy is made by the woman herself. As experience shows, the most common grounds for abortion are:

Before making a decision, think carefully about the consequences and about the life of the unborn baby. Pregnancy triggers certain mechanisms in a woman's body and completely changes the hormonal background. Artificial termination of pregnancy does not go unnoticed, it is a serious stress for the body, so the reverse restructuring of all processes can slow down or go away with complications that will have to be treated.

In most women, after an abortion, the cycle goes astray, menstruation is irregular and painful. Usually this is the first herald of what begins more serious problems. Another common complication is uterine bleeding. If it is not stopped in time, it can be fatal. Often in women there is a malfunction, the load on the adrenal glands increases, and this disrupts the metabolism. The production decreases, the amount of the male hormone increases, which stimulates the development of infertility and affects appearance women.

The breast almost immediately reacts to the occurrence of pregnancy, therefore, after an abortion, it suffers in the first place - the appearance of tumors and neoplasms is possible. Nulliparous women after an abortion are doubly at risk of developing infertility. Studies have shown that three out of ten women who have an abortion cannot subsequently have children.

The medical consequences of the procedure can be irreversible, so later, when the desire to have children appears, not everyone will be able to get pregnant - there is always a risk of developing secondary infertility. Any medical intervention, even the most seemingly harmless, can have side effects, even death. Therefore, do not joke with your health - it is preferable to carry out competent prevention of unwanted pregnancy, so that later you do not have to resolve the issue by drastic methods.

The news of the upcoming pregnancy does not delight all ladies. There are many reasons for this, from unplanned conception to poor health. To get rid of an unwanted pregnancy, today there are several ways. The safest drug is considered. This method excludes serious surgical intervention. It is better tolerated both physically and psychologically. In our article, we will talk about how medical abortion occurs. Also, your attention will be provided with information about possible contraindications and consequences of pharmacological abortion.

Description of the procedure

Medical or pharmacological abortion is a procedure aimed at terminating an unwanted pregnancy without major surgical intervention. It is carried out with the help of certain drugs. Their action is based on blocking the production of progesterone. This hormone is produced in the body of a woman and is responsible for maintaining pregnancy. After taking the pill, a spontaneous miscarriage occurs.

Medical abortion, drugs for this procedure and its implementation - all these issues have been discussed by doctors for a long time. However, only since the end of the last century has it become possible to carry out pharmacological abortion effectively and relatively safely for a woman's health. Experts from France have developed the drug Mifepristone, which belongs to the group of antiprogestins. In the early 1980s, large-scale studies of this drug as an abortion drug were launched in Geneva. A few years later, in France, they began to put it into practice.

Numerous medical studies show that women prefer pharmacological abortion for a number of reasons. First, there is a fear of surgery. Secondly, this method allows you to hide an unwanted pregnancy from relatives and friends.

Advantages of pharmacological abortion over surgical

Medical termination of pregnancy, the timing of which is described below, has a number of significant advantages. We have already mentioned some of them earlier. For what other positive points worth paying attention?

  1. No need to take painkillers.
  2. Fast recovery period.
  3. The probability of damage to the uterine cavity, the development of adhesive processes or other gynecological complications is excluded.
  4. Medical abortion resembles heavy periods, so psychologically a woman perceives it as a natural process.
  5. There is no need to go to the hospital.
  6. The risk of infection with viral diseases (AIDS or hepatitis) is excluded.

To find out all the nuances of how medical abortion occurs, it is better to consult a gynecologist. The specialist will answer your questions and give useful recommendations.

Permissible terms

Pharmacological abortion can be carried out up to the 6th week of pregnancy, counting from the first day of the last menstruation. The effectiveness of the procedure increases markedly when used in the early stages. Otherwise, other interruption techniques (eg, vacuum aspiration or surgery) may be required.

What drugs are used?

Medicines for the procedure are selected by the doctor. At the same time, it must take into account individual characteristics female body. The drugs used today can be divided into two conditional groups. The first includes "Postinor" and "Escapel". They are used for emergency contraception.

"Postinor" is available in the form of tablets. Its active ingredient is levonorgestrel. Once in the body, it causes certain changes in the endometrium, preventing the process of egg implantation. On the other hand, levonorgestrel suppresses ovulation. According to the instructions, "Postinor" must be drunk immediately after unprotected sexual contact has taken place. First you need to take one pill, and after 12 hours - the second. During the first few hours, its effectiveness is 95%. Within a day, this figure drops to 58%.

"Escapel" has a similar effect, but contains a large dose of levonorgestrel. Therefore, taking the medication is limited to one tablet. This difference between the two means and limited. They have the same effect on the ovulation and fertilization processes.

The second group of drugs includes "Mifepristone" and "Pencrofton". Their use is justified in case of pregnancy, the period of which does not exceed 6 weeks. They are used after implantation of a fertilized egg. Therefore, before prescribing these drugs, it is necessary to conduct a number of clinical studies.

The active ingredient is mifepristone. Its penetration into the body blocks the activity of progesterone, significantly increasing the contractility of the myometrium. As a result of these processes, the cervix begins to expand, expelling the fetal egg. Below we will consider how medical abortion occurs using the last group of medicines. "Mifepristone" and "Pencrofton" are used for this procedure most often.

Possible contraindications

There are a number of circumstances in which medical abortion should not be performed. Reviews of gynecologists warn that it is better to refuse the procedure in the following cases:

  • gynecological diseases of an inflammatory nature;
  • uterine fibroids;
  • long-term treatment with glucocorticoids;
  • blood clotting disorder;
  • lactation period;
  • ectopic first pregnancy.

Medical abortion is not recommended for women over 35 years of age. The drugs used may cause abrupt change hormonal background.

Preparation for the procedure

Pharmacological abortion is a serious procedure that must be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. After the appearance of signs of an unwanted pregnancy, you should contact a gynecologist for a preliminary examination. The doctor performs an ultrasound to determine estimated time conception. After that, the woman must give written consent to medical termination of pregnancy.

Preparations for the procedure are selected by the gynecologist. Before an abortion, a pregnant woman must also pass several tests, including a swab for flora. If cardiovascular disease is suspected, a cardiogram may be required. After that, the doctor sets the date of the abortion. Before this, it is better to give up heavy food, alcohol and smoking 24 hours in advance.

Stages of pharmacological abortion

After receiving the results of the analyzes, you can proceed directly to the procedure itself. How is a medical abortion performed?

In the absence of obvious contraindications, the doctor gives the woman a drink of the drug. As a rule, these are 3 pills of 200 mg each. The next visit to the gynecologist is recommended after 36 hours. At this stage, the fetus is expelled from the uterus. For this purpose, a woman is given prostaglandins, be sure to instruct about possible consequences. Sometimes she is asked to stay in the clinic for a day to monitor changes in her condition. A woman can be allowed to go home, provided that she adheres to the recommendations of a specialist, and if discomfort contact him immediately.

The first control ultrasound is performed 3 days after taking the drugs. If the remains of the fetus are visualized in the uterine cavity, the doctor decides how to proceed. The second control ultrasound is scheduled in 2 weeks. If necessary, the gynecologist gives direction to the analysis of the level of hCG.

Recovery period

Recovery after the procedure lasts about a month. At this time, you need to pay special attention to health and well-being. Fever, pain in the lower abdomen, spotting after medical termination of pregnancy - all these symptoms should be the reason for a visit to the doctor.

After a pharmacological abortion, a woman's body undergoes serious changes. The hormonal background is restored, the reproductive sphere is rebuilt, immunity decreases, and the risk of developing inflammation increases. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of yourself, give the body time to normalize the work of the main systems.

Within 14 days after the abortion, you should refuse to visit the bathhouse, have sexual intercourse, play sports and use tampons. If you follow these tips, you can hope for a successful recovery of the body.

Bleeding after an abortion - normal or pathological?

Negative consequences of medical termination of pregnancy are extremely rare, but they are still possible. One of them is bleeding.

The appearance of blood clots after taking the first pill is considered normal. For 5 days, discharge is usually worn exuberant character. After this period, they become more scarce, and then completely stop. For some women, spotting continues until the first menstrual period.

Their nature depends solely on the individual characteristics of the organism. At first they may be scarlet in color, then dark and brownish in the end. It is necessary to control bleeding after medical termination of pregnancy, to monitor their volume. It is considered pathological to use more than two pads per hour.

In the presence of severe bleeding or with its abrupt cessation, you should immediately contact a gynecologist. If this is not possible, it is necessary to call a team of medical workers.

Complications of medical abortion

Pharmacological abortion is considered relatively safe procedure but it is not without its shortcomings. After taking medications, side effects may occur, including:

  1. Pain discomfort. In this case, everything depends on the characteristics of the organism, the threshold of its sensitivity. Before the procedure, the doctor should talk about possible painful sensations. To eliminate them, antispasmodics and analgesics are usually prescribed. It is not recommended to take medications on your own, you need to consult a doctor.
  2. Nausea and vomiting. Pregnancy itself can be accompanied by such symptoms. Sometimes nausea and vomiting are caused by prostaglandins prescribed by a gynecologist. These side effects are rare, but they go away on their own.
  3. Temperature increase. The consequences of medical termination of pregnancy of this nature are caused by taking medications. As a rule, the temperature rises to 38 degrees and lasts no more than 4 hours. If unpleasant symptom does not disappear, most likely, it is a consequence inflammatory process. You should tell your doctor about the change in well-being, who will already prescribe the appropriate therapy.
  4. Diarrhea. This is a short-term side effect that does not require specific treatment.
  5. Hematometer. This disorder is characterized by the accumulation of blood clots in the uterine cavity. Its development is preceded by a spasm of the neck of the reproductive organ. You can eliminate the violation with the help of medicines.

These pathologies rarely accompany medical abortion. Reviews of women who have passed this procedure, confirm this assertion. Pharmacological abortion leaves almost no noticeable consequences if done in qualified specialist and in the absence of contraindications.

Service cost

Where is medical abortion performed? This question worries many women. Almost everyone provides this service. medical institutions. It is recommended to seek her help in the hospital where your attending gynecologist works.

The final cost of the procedure may vary depending on the drugs used, the prestige of the clinic and the qualifications of the specialist. A certain role in this matter belongs to the woman's stay in the hospital after the gynecologist performs a medical abortion. The price of the service in this case can be from 7 to 11 thousand rubles.