What is Abortion
Abortion is the process of removing tissue from the uterus. But in general, when abortion is mentioned, it is understood as the termination of pregnancy evacuation. Abortion is the most common minor surgical procedure performed by obstetricians. Abortion is not just a method used to terminate unwanted pregnancy. At the same time, it is a method that is frequently used for diagnostic biopsy and therapeutic purposes in patients. Medically, we call this practice “Probe Abortion”.
Confidentiality is the basic principle between the patient and the physician who performs the procedure for unwanted pregnancies. In the old years, the abortion process performed with metal instruments, both the patients felt psychologically unwell and there were problems in the procedures, but today, thanks to the development of practical plastic instruments and the advances in anesthesia applications, the abortion procedure performed by an experienced doctor under sterile conditions ends in 4-5 minutes. Both during and after the procedure, the patient does not feel pain and does not experience any serious problems.
In Which Situations Abortion Is Necessary?
- In unintended pregnancies, abortion can be performed until the tenth week of pregnancy. However, the basic requirement for the procedure is that the patient is over the age of 18 and consents to the procedure with his free will, as well as having the consent of the spouse for married couples.
- For the purpose of cleaning the inside of the uterus in patients who have had a miscarriage
- If the baby died in the womb of the mother before the twentieth week of pregnancy for any reason.
- In our country, abortion is legally limited to less than 10 weeks.
- When the patient with emergency bleeding consults the doctor, if the bleeding situation is dangerous for the patient’s life, there is no need for approval other than the patient’s consent for the abortion procedure.
- In cases of abnormal bleeding in non-pregnant women, abortion can be performed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes if thickening of the inner wall of the uterus or polyp formations in the uterus are visible on ultrasound.
Points to Consider for a Successful Abortion Procedure
The physician must be experienced.
- The patient’s anamnesis, previous abortions and surgeries, whether he has any disease or not, the drugs he uses (especially blood thinners) should be questioned thoroughly, and if anesthesia is to be given, it should be questioned whether he is allergic to anesthesia.
Then, the gestational week and the location of the pregnancy, whether there is an additional problem or not, should be revealed by ultrasonography, and the abortion procedure should be performed with ultrasonography, and after the procedure, whether there is any part left inside and whether there is bleeding should be checked with ultrasonography.
- It is necessary to act early for abortion and to have an abortion in the early period. As the gestational week progresses, the problems increase, but sometimes the procedure may fail in very early abortions. It is necessary to be careful about this.
- It is necessary to perform abortion in sterile environments and disposable cannulas and vacuum system should be used for each patient. The uterus should be thoroughly checked and metal tools should never be used if not necessary.
- After the procedure, the patient should not be sent home immediately, the patient should be informed about possible problems, the phone number that the patient can reach 24 hours a day should be given to the patient, and communication with the patient should not be lost.
What Stages Does a Patient Who Wants to Have An Abortion Go Through When Applying To Us?
- When you decide to have an abortion procedure, when you come to our clinic, first of all, your general situation is discussed, your gestational week is determined by ultrasonography, and then, if there is no additional problem in your general situation, your gestational week and legal situation are available, the procedure is decided within your consent.
- For a painless procedure under sedation, it is very important to have a 5-hour hunger and thirst. You will be given detailed information about the procedure and the problems you may encounter after the procedure are explained. You are given a contact number that is always open for communication.
- You will not feel any pain under sedation anesthesia after you are taken to the gynecological table for the procedure. The vagina and the mouth of the vagina are cleaned with disinfection, a plastic disposable carmen cannula special for you is inserted into the uterus, and the uterus is emptied with a vacuum tool that provides negative pressure to its tip. All of this is done under ultrasound guidance. When the uterus is emptied, the uterus is examined again with ultrasound and it is checked whether there is any bleeding or not. Since the vacuum method is used in the process, there is no negative problem in subsequent pregnancy situations. After the abortion process is over, a spiral can be inserted to prevent a new pregnancy. The painkillers given to you after the sedation anesthesia may make you feel very little pain after waking up. However, in some cases, painkillers are given when the pain bothers the patient.
What Should Be Done After Abortion and In Which Situations A Doctor Should Be Called?
- After the abortion, the drugs given to you for infection and pain must be used.
- Vaginal douching is not allowed, tampons are not used, only pads can be used to avoid infection. At the same time, not having intercourse for 7-10 days is very important in terms of preventing infection.
- You may feel tired, exhausted and sluggish after the abortion procedure. Therefore, you must rest and take a walk. Sometimes patients may feel very bad psychologically and psychological support can be obtained in these cases. Mild pain, bleeding and cramps may occur for 1 week and 10 days after abortion. Don’t panic. But if there is a serious bleeding, if you are dropping it piece by piece, if you have severe pain, fever and abdominal pain, you should definitely contact us.
- In order not to encounter a new pregnancy situation after abortion, you need to be protected for a certain period. For this, it is useful to talk to your doctor and determine the most suitable birth control method for you.
- Your first period will appear 35-45 days after abortion, so don’t panic. It is beneficial to stay away from heavy exercise, sea and pool for the first week and 10 days until the next control.
- It is normal to have bleeding for 3 weeks after an abortion. In some people it may not happen at all, while in others it may happen from time to time. Bleeding with pain in the form of spasms between the fourth and fifth days is common.
- Every patient must come for a check-up after 1 week and 10 days. After the control, exercise, sexual intercourse, pool and sea are free. It is useful to know that ovulation occurs in the third week after the procedure and it is possible to get pregnant again even without menstruation.