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ABORTION RISKS AFTERCARE RESULTS
Category: Obstetrics Gynecology
Abstract : Aftercare Regardless of the method used to perform the abortion, a woman will be observed for a period of time to make sure her blood pressure is stable and that bleeding is controlled. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics to reduce the chance of infection. Women who are Rh negative (lacking genetically determined antigens in their red blood cells that produce immune responses) should be given
Aftercare
Regardless of the method used to perform the abortion, a woman will be observed for a period of time to make sure her blood pressure is stable and that bleeding is controlled. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics to reduce the chance of infection.
Women who are Rh negative (lacking genetically determined antigens in their red blood cells that produce immune responses) should be given an injection of human Rh immune globulin (RhoGAM) after the procedure unless the father of the fetus is also Rh negative. This prevents blood incompatibility complications in future pregnancies.
Bleeding will continue for about five days in a surgical abortion and longer in a medical abortion. To decrease the risk of infection, a woman should avoid intercourse, tampons, and douches for two weeks after the abortion. A follow-up visit is a necessary part of the woman’s aftercare. Contraception will be offered to women who wish to avoid future pregnancies, because menstrual periods normally resume within a few weeks.
Risks
Complications from abortions can include:
• uncontrolled bleeding
• infection
• blood clots accumulating in the uterus
• a tear in the cervix or uterus
• missed abortion (the pregnancy is not terminated)
• incomplete abortion where some material from the pregnancy remains in the uterus
Women who experience any of the following symptoms of post-abortion complications should call the clinic or doctor who performed the abortion immediately:
• severe pain
• fever over 100.4°F (38.2°C)
• heavy bleeding that soaks through more than one sanitary pad per hour
• foul-smelling discharge from the vagina
• continuing symptoms of pregnancy
Normal results
Usually the pregnancy is ended without complication and without altering future fertility.
Morbidity and mortality rates
Serious complications resulting from abortions performed before 13 weeks are rare. Of the 90% of women who have abortions in this time period, 2.5% have minor complications that can be handled without hospitalization. Less than 0.5% have complications that require a hospital stay. The rate of complications increases as the pregnancy progresses.
Only one maternal death occurs per 530,000 abortions performed at eight weeks gestation or less; this increases to one death per 17,000 abortions performed from 16 to 20 weeks, and one death per 6,000 abortions performed over 20 weeks.
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