Abortion

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Abortion, in its most commonly used sense, refers to the deliberate early termination of pregnancy, resulting in the discharge of the embryo or fetus. Medically, the term also refers to the early termination of a pregnancy by natural causes ("spontaneous abortion" or miscarriage, which ends 1 in 5 of all pregnancies, usually within the first 13 weeks) or to the cessation of normal growth of a body part or organ. What follows is a discussion of the issues related to deliberate or "induced" abortion.

(Note: "morning after" or "emergency" contraceptive drugs that are taken within 72 hours of sex interfere with the release of eggs from the ovary or with fertilization, and so are not generally considered to be forms of abortion unless they interfere with implantation of a zygote when taken later).

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Methods of Aborting Pregnancy

Depending on the stage of pregnancy an abortion is performed by a number of different methods. For the earliest terminations (before nine weeks or so) a chemical abortion is the usual method. The procedure consists of giving either methotrexate or mifepristone (RU-486) followed by administration of misoprostol. Approximately 8% of these abortions require surgical followup.

Concurrent with chemical abortion and extending up until around the fifteenth week suction-aspiration or vacuum abortion is the most common approach, replacing the more risky dilation and curettage (D & C). Manual vacuum aspiration (MVE) consists of emptying the uterus by suction using a manual syringe. From the fifteenth week up until around the eighteenth week a surgical dilation and evacuation (D & E) is used. D&E consists of opening the cervix of the uterus and emptying it using surgical instruments and suction.

Dilation and suction curettage consists of emptying the uterus by suction using a special apparatus. Curettage is cleaning the walls of uterus with a curette. Dilation and curettage (D&C) is a standard gynaecological procedure performed for a variety of reasons.

As the fetus size increases other techniques must be used to secure abortion in the third trimester, premature expulsion of the fetus can be induced with prostaglandin, this can be coupled with injecting the amniotic fluid with saline or urea solution. Very late abortions can be brought about by the controversial intact dilation and extraction (D & X) or a hysterotomy abortion, similar to a caesarian section, and requiring the surgical decompression of the fetus's head before evacuation. This is also referred to as Intact dilation and extraction.

See also: Sex selective abortion, herbal contraception, partial-birth abortion

Side Effects

Some experts argue that abortion may increase women's risk of breast cancer and depression.

Study shows that if abortion increases risk of breast cancer, it is due to a woman not having children near the beginning of her childbearing age, which itself increases their risk of breast cancer, due to hormonal changes or the lack thereof in the body. Some cancer research organizations, including the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society indicate their is no such risk, however, so the risk is not conclusive.

Depression, on the other hand, is a larger problem. (While the causes of depression vary, this article deals only with abortion-related depression). According to studies as early as 1884 - conducted by the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, showing women who did not carry their first pregnancies to term were 65% more likely to have clinical depression by the eight-year mark - depression is a common result of abortion. Critics claim abortion could not result in depression, however, but such claims are highly debatable and aimed at changing the subject away from side effects to moral arguments.

Clearly, though, women regularly report that abortion can be a traumatic and life-changing experience, and this in itself can produce side effects varying widely in different women. It is not uncommon for women to report depression and vague feelings of regret, citing causes ranging from guilt to having caused "fetal pain", among other reactions.

Related Topics


References

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