ABORTION

Medical Termination Of Pregnancy

Our advice to young married couples is that they should seek proper and timely advice in planning their babies so as to avoid abortion when an unplanned baby comes along. Especially the first time round. While you can go through a well executed MTP or medical termination of pregnancy (abortion) like a breeze, were there to be any complications, the infertility associated with disastrous. The fear of infertility associated with an Medical Termination of Pregnancy (abortion) is no myth. Ofcourse, the chances are much less when an experienced surgeon and an antiseptic hospital atmosphere are involved-but do you want to take the chances?

Positions to Avoid Abortion

Medically speaking, what a Medical Termination of Pregnancy (abortion) involves is opening and dilating of the cervix to evacuate the uterus by suction. This process requires connection of the vagina to the uterus and therein lies the critical part. The vagina and particularly the mouth of vagina, could be carrying a number of bacteria. Therefore, the surgeon must be careful to clean the vagina very well because as the uterus is connected to the vagina during the process, there are fair chances of the bacteria traveling to the uterus and the fallopian tubes, causing undetected damage such as blockage of the tubes.

The other reason why you must go to a competent surgeon is the possibility of scraping too little or too much. If the uterus is scraped too little for fear of damage to the uterus wall, particles of the embryo may remain in there and you may require a second or third D&C (Dilation and Curettage). If this were to happen, then besides the fact that you would continue to bleed heavily for several days after the MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) or Abortion and experience discomfort, you would have remained open. On the other hand, if the scrapes too much, it might damage the uterus walls. They may not heal and instead stick together-causing infertility, which you would get to know of only at a later period when you attempt at conception and face failure. The condition is called Asherman's Syndrome and while it can be treated in a minor case, it may be so severe that it cannot be treated at all. The doctor admits that such complications occur only in one in a thousand cases-but after all, you don't want to be part of the lower statistic. What is heartening is that the number of infections due to MPT(Medical Termination of Pregnancy) or abortion has gone down substantially in the last few years, as surgeons now ensure that a good antibiotic is pushed into the uterus before the Medical Termination of Pregnancy or abortion is undertaken.

The other complication associated with an MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) or abortion is perforation. The surgeon may perforate the uterus and pull the intestines or other vital organs, presuming they are part of the embryo. If detected in time, the patient has a chance or else, in a bad case this could be fatal as well. And there is also the possibility that the uterus is damaged so badly that it has to be removed all together. Ofcourse, small perforations are fairly common during an MPT (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) or abortion but these heal by themselves. In all, a Medical Termination of Pregnancy is a five to ten minute procedure and can even be undertaken under local anaesthesia but for the last, the patient has to be sufficiently motivated and co-operative. Local anaesthesia may be advisable for somebody who has been through a pregenancy and knows the operational ropes such as legs being put up on stirrups etc. The cervix is also easily dilated the second time around so a local anaesthesia works as well.

Pre-Abortion

As regards tests required prior to an MTP or abortion, it's the usual-blood group, sugar level and haemoglobin. The blood group is an important factor-if the mother is a plus group and the father a minus, the patient must be administered anti-D to prevent sensitivity to Rhesus antibodies in subsequent pregnancies.

Post-Abortion

What you need to look out for a fter an abortion is the extent to which you are bleeding. While a certain amount of bleeding is normal, the warning bells should ring if you find yourself bleeding for over ten days, or you experience an unwarranted pain or spells or dizziness. The doctor also advises that a 24-48 hour period of rest is enough after an abortion. In many cases, the patient brings psychologically induced weakness upon herself which is best avoided by resuming normal activities as soon as possible, though she should refrain from having intercourse until the bleeding stops. Contraceptives should be used as soon as intercourse is resumed. If the couple so wishes, they can plan a child after two-three normal menstrual cycles, post MTP or abortion.

Time Factor In Abortion

An MTP or abortion undertaken for a 10 or 11 weeks old foetus is safe, 12 weeks, which is equal to two and half calendar months, is not a recommended period because now the foetus is neither too small nor too big. After 16 weeks, the MTP needs to be executed like a mini-labour by administering injections that can cause expulsion of the foetus. At this stage, if the injection does not seem to work, the abdomen may need to be opened up and the MTP executed like a caesarian.

It is important to realize that while what you are undergoing is a minor operation, its effects are important. Avoid quacks and neighbourhood clinics altogether. Make sure that you are undergoing the procedure under the hands of a capable doctor and in a clean and reliable hospital.