Medical abortion: Not simple

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Tran Thi Phuong Loan - Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital

Some people think that a medical abortion is a private and non-invasive method of termination of pregnancy, but it is not as simple as you think. Here are the facts behind mifepristone abortion.

Women who choose this new form of "medical abortion" will likely find this regimen easy to follow. The physical side effects were tolerable, the researchers said. But it may not be easy to find a doctor who prescribes the medicine, a pharmacy that will sell it, a hospital that can perform medical abortions with safe follow-up for you..
The process begins. , as with all other methods of abortion, is consultation with a specialist. This is a particularly important part of medical abortion, because the protocol has two parts, using two different drugs. Dr Kirsten Moore, Project Manager for Reproductive Health Technologies - Washington, said: “When you make this decision, you have to follow it, because you are taking a drug that will harm your unborn baby. ".
The drug that Dr. Moore is referring to is mifepristone . It doesn't kill the embryo directly, but instead changes the conditions inside the uterus to make it nearly impossible for the embryo to grow further. "Mifepristone begins to break down the lining of the uterus so that the embryo begins to detach from the wall of the uterus." That causes half of the women who use the pill to experience vaginal bleeding, says Dr. Mitchell Creinin, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Pittsburgh. When taken alone, mifepristone causes up to 80% of miscarriages, according to studies. But when an additional drug -misoprostol was taken after 2 days, the effect rate was as high as 95% (some researchers say the actual number is higher).

Medical abortion regimen requires the use of these drugs, including a drug quite familiar to patients with gastric ulcers is mifepristone. While misoprostol protects the stomach lining, it also causes uterine damage. "It causes uterine contractions," says Dr. Moore. "And that's when the patient has bleeding and pain. ...For some, it's like a normal period, for others it's almost a miscarriage."
The Population Council, the New York-based organization that holds the patent for mifepristone, says that vaginal bleeding can sometimes last up to three weeks and that patients can also experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. run. But for most cases, the side effects will be short-lived.
"Within 24 hours of taking misoprostol, almost 90% of women miscarry," says Vicki Saporta, CEO of the National Abortion Federation.

In all cases, the patient must return for a follow-up visit within 2 weeks to be sure the pregnancy has been terminated, thanks to an ultrasound. Medical abortion is only recommended for pregnancies under 7 weeks – when the embryo is the size of a marble.
The effect of Mifepristone usually does not exceed 7 weeks of pregnancy because at this time the placenta begins to secrete progesterone at a too high level, so mifepristone cannot block it. But Dr. Creatinine said that there is more data to support the effect of mifepristone at 9 and even 10 weeks of pregnancy, but with a vaginal dose of misoprostol followed.
Medical abortion regimens may differ due to the reduction in the number of mifepristone tablets and the interval between taking the two drugs.
However, there is one adverse event that women need to consider when having a medical abortion: the possibility that it will not work. This happens in about 5% of cases, according to Saporta, at which point the option is surgical intervention.
Not every woman can have a medical abortion. Patients with a history of disease such as anemia, adrenal disease, lung, liver or kidney disease, coagulopathy, cardiovascular disease, previous ectopic pregnancy or glaucoma are advised not to undergo ablation. this pregnancy.
Abortion is something no one wants, to ensure your health and maintain your ability to get pregnant, consult a specialist where the hospital has an obstetrics specialist, find out all the information Before making a decision, and prepare yourself well to ensure health and safety.
Articles refer to the source: webmd.com