Abortion, a situation feared by every woman, is resorted to in cases of unwanted pregnancies and is one of the most curious and questioned situations for women. Let’s examine together what abortion is and how it is done.
What is Abortion?
Abortion is the termination of pregnancy within the uterus of a woman who has become pregnant for any reason.
For What Reasons Is Abortion Done?
- Unplanned pregnancy
- Having a sufficient number of children and not wanting a new child
- Becoming pregnant as a result of an error while using any birth control method (such as forgetting to take the birth control pill, displacement of the intrauterine device, condom breakage, errors made while using the calendar method, failure to take protective measures during breastfeeding)
- Using drugs that may harm the unborn baby without knowing the pregnancy, exposure to X-ray and radiation
- Having diseases in the mother that can endanger her life if she gives birth, diseases where pregnancy is strictly prohibited
- Pregnancies resulting from rape or extramarital relationships
- Situations where the baby does not develop and dies or there is a severe genetic disorder.
What Kind of Procedure is Abortion?
When carried out by an experienced obstetrician-gynaecologist who specialises in abortion and in accordance with the rules, abortion is a very easy procedure with minimal complications. Whether performed with a large plastic syringe called a carmen device or with a vacuum device using modern methods today, it can easily be performed without scratching the uterus through the suction method without scraping the uterus.
Is Abortion Painful?
Generally, short-term superficial general anaesthesia is applied. The patient falls asleep shortly and wakes up smoothly after the procedure, not remembering the abortion and feeling no pain. They regain consciousness in 15 minutes and can walk home after resting for a short while. If the patient has previously had a normal delivery and does not want anaesthesia, the cervix can be anaesthetised with local anaesthesia. During this procedure, the patient is conscious and can chat with the doctor and the assisting staff. They may feel a few minutes of pain similar to menstrual cramps.
What are the Complications of Abortion?
In abortions performed by experts in the field and meticulously, the likelihood of any complication is extremely low.
- Development of infection: In abortions performed using sterile conditions and disposable materials, this possibility is extremely low.
- Retained tissue: In abortions performed by an experienced specialist, this is also a rare possibility. Sometimes, due to uterine fibroids or polyps, pieces in a certain area may not be completely cleaned, leading to unceasing bleeding, and a second cleaning may be required.
- Uterine perforation: Known as uterine perforation in colloquial terms, it is almost never seen in abortions performed within legal limits and gently.
- Continuation of pregnancy despite abortion: In abortions performed under ultrasound guidance, this possibility is quite rare. Delaying the abortion until the formation of the gestational sac prevents this risk.
Can Someone Who Has Had an Abortion Get Pregnant Again?
If no complications occur after an abortion performed with vacuum aspiration and by an experienced obstetrician-gynaecologist, you can get pregnant even the next month.
Is Abortion a Birth Control Method?
Abortion is not a method of birth control, it can be done only if necessary. Therefore, contraceptive rules should be followed as they should be, and efforts should be made to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
What Should Be Considered After Abortion?
Attention should be paid to points such as not having sexual intercourse for 15 days, avoiding swimming pools and the sea for 15 days, taking showers standing up for 15 days, regularly using antibiotics if recommended by your doctor, and going for a check-up to the doctor who performed your abortion after 15 days.
Should People with Blood Incompatibility Get Vaccinated After an Abortion?
Yes, if you have blood incompatibility, you should get an anti-D vaccine after every abortion you have undergone. This is a matter that should not be neglected for the health of your subsequent pregnancies.
