Medical abortion - is abortion, which is carried out by means of special medical equipment. He may be assigned when the pregnancy or labor are dangerous to the mother's life or if a child has anomalies associated with major organ systems, which is why the chances of its survival and healthy development of low birth. However, in most cases, abortion is the own choice of the pregnant woman.

When choosing a method of medical abortion accounted for factors such as gestational age, overall health of the patient and her personal preferences.

Types of abortion

All types of medical abortion can be divided into two groups: chemical and surgical.

Chemical abortion

Chemical abortions, also known as medical abortion is a popular means of abortion in the early stages; in North America and in Europe 10% of all abortions - chemical. We have such a method of abortion is received less common. Chemical abortions performed in the first trimester of pregnancy. There are different ways of carrying out a chemical abortion. In the most common version of the patient give misoprostol, and after a while she takes methotrexate. Misoprostol causes the detachment of the endometrium from the uterine wall and the death of the embryo; after methotrexate contractions start, resulting in the expulsion of an embryo.

The chemical abortion can be carried out only with the use of misoprostol Misoprostol - indications for abortion . Sometimes abortion patient give misoprostol, methotrexate, and a third drug - mifepristone.

Bleeding lasts from a few days to a few weeks after the start of chemical abortion. Sometimes medical abortion goes badly, and the final abortion surgical abortion is required.

Surgical abortion

There are several types of surgical abortion, which are used depending on the duration of pregnancy.

Vacuum aspiration or vacuum abortion - the most common method of abortion up to 15 weeks. This method includes manual vacuum aspiration Vacuum aspiration - widely used method   and electric vacuum aspiration - the fruit is removed from the uterus using manual and electric pump, respectively.

Expansion and extraction can be used with 15 to 18 weeks; This procedure involves dilatation of the cervix and extract its contents by surgical instruments, including the vacuum pump.

Dilatation and curettage Scraping - heavy and unsafe procedure   - A medical abortion, in which the emptying of the uterus is carried out using a curette.

In the later stages of pregnancy medical abortion is carried out using other methods - much more dangerous to the health of the patient.

Surgical abortion is performed under local or general anesthesia. After an abortion, a woman usually experiences contractions, similar to cramping during menstruation. Bleeding usually lasts no longer than two weeks after the abortion. The menstrual cycle is usually renewed after four weeks.

Risks associated with medical abortion

Making a decision about abortion, it is important to take into account all the risks associated with it. Abortion - this event, emotional and physical consequences of which could without exaggeration change a woman's life.

The most common complications of medical abortion:

• Heavy bleeding moderately intense bleeding for a while is normal; however, in some cases, especially if during an abortion has been damaged in one of the uterine arteries can be very severe bleeding. Severe cases may require a blood transfusion.
• Infections sometimes during abortion contents of the uterus is not removed completely, and part of the tissue remains inside. In this case, it increases the risk of penetration into the uterus of bacteria that can cause infection. The most common symptom onset of infection is the dramatic rise in body temperature.
• An allergic reaction to medication: some women have an allergic reaction to misoprostol, methotrexate and / or mifepristone, as well as drugs used for anesthesia during surgical abortion.
• Other problems: There is a slight risk of rupture of the cervix and uterine scarring. When abortion late in pregnancy increases the risk of perforation of the uterus; in some cases this may result in the need for a hysterectomy - removal of the uterus Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) - a terrible need .

Medical abortion is also associated with an increased risk of complications such as placenta previa, in subsequent pregnancies.

Despite the large variety of contraceptives in Russia it is still a high percentage of abortions. The negative attitude of women to hormone pills exacerbated by the proliferation of myths about the dangers of their use. If 50 years ago, contraceptive tablets were many side effects, today new generation of contraceptive pills contain minimal doses of hormones, and are practically no side effects. Hormone pills are the drugs of choice for the prevention of pregnancy in young nulliparous women with multiple sexual partners.

Mechanism of action

All hormonal birth control pills Hormonal birth control pills - a modern method of preventing preg   divided into two groups: combined oral contraceptive pill and mini-pill. The structure of combined oral contraceptives include artificially synthesized hormones (ethinyl estradiol and progestins). The action of these tablets is based on inhibition of ovulation Ovulation - How to determine as accurately as possible? , Changes in the structure of the mucous membrane of the uterus (which prevents implantation of the embryo) and thickening the mucus in the cervix Cervical canal - the path traversed by every person   (hinders the penetration of sperm into the uterus).

Mini-pill contains only progestogen component and ideal for women during breastfeeding. Mini-pill not render the overall impact on the body, they cause a thickening of the cervical mucus and structural changes in the endometrium, which makes it impossible to embryo implantation.

The advantages of the new generation of birth control pills

Birth control pills are the new generation have almost no side effects due to the minimum content of hormones. But the benefits are unquestionable:

• reliable contraceptive effect (98%);
• normalization of the menstrual cycle;
• decrease in blood loss and pain during menstruation;
• decreased risk of iron-deficiency anemia;
• reducing the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer;
• anti-androgenic effect of certain drugs;
• positive effect on the skin;
• positive effect in excess pilosis;
• enhancement of sexual desire;
• prevention of uterine fibroids and endometriosis Endometriosis - a serious problem with serious consequences ;
• prevention of inflammatory diseases of the female reproductive organs;
• Warning of an ectopic pregnancy.

New contraceptive pill

Combination oral tablets according to the content of hormones are divided into: mikrodozirovannye, nizkodozirvannye, srednedozirovannye and tablets with a high content of hormones.

Mikrodozirovannye hormone pills are suitable for women, sexually active and do not have a history of childbirth. The minimum content of the hormones in birth control pills nullify the manifestation of side effects:

• lindinet 20 (contains 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and 75 micrograms gestodene);
• Novinet (the structure includes 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and desogestrel 150 mg);
• logest (contains 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and 75 micrograms gestodene);
• Mersilon (contains 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and 150 mcg desogestrel);
• miniziston fems 20 (of 20 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel 100 mcg).

Low-dose hormonal pills used in young nulliparous women in the absence of the effect mikrodozirovannymi drugs, as well as suitable for women of late reproductive age:

• Yasmin (contains 30 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone 3 mg) has anti-androgenic effect;
• lindinet 30 (contains 30 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and 75 micrograms gestodene);
• regulon (ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg and 150 mcg desogestrel);

Srednedozirovannye hormonal pills used in parous women and women of late reproductive age:

• Diana 35 (35 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and 3 mg cyproterone acetate) has anti-androgenic effect;
• Desmoulins (ethynodiol diacetate contains 1 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 35 micrograms);

Vysokodozirovannye hormonal contraceptives are used for therapeutic purposes and used only on prescription:

• trikvilar (ethinyl estradiol 40 mcg and 75 mcg levonorgestrel);
• triziston (contains 40 mcg of ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel 75 micrograms);
• non-ovlon (containing ethinyl estradiol 50 mcg and cyproterone acetate 1 mg).

Mini-pill

For mini-drink or Non-combination oral contraceptives include tablets which contain only progestogen. For drugs of the new generation are: laktinet, esklyuton, mikrolyut, norkolut and others.

Anna Sozinova