Oxytocin injections to terminate pregnancy. Action during abortion. Oxytocin for abortion

Features of the use of the drug

The drug, penetrating into the woman’s body and causing contractions, is capable of. Experts note that the drug “Oxytocin” is most effective for It should be said that, despite the fact that the drug is considered a less traumatic alternative compared to surgery, the use of the drug may increase the risk of developing open bleeding. In this regard, it is recommended to prescribe the drug “Oxytocin” to terminate pregnancy before the embryo is firmly attached to the uterine wall. In practice, however, there have been cases of using the drug at a later date. As a rule, such a need arises in the case of a “frozen” pregnancy in the second or third trimester. In such situations, surgical abortion is quite difficult, since it is necessary to destroy the fetus in utero using special instruments or perform a caesarean section. When administered, the drug actually induces labor. The remedy is also recommended for incomplete miscarriage. In this case, the drug helps cleanse the uterus from the remains of the embryo and endometrium. Stimulation of the smooth muscles of the uterus is also necessary in the later stages of gestation, when labor does not occur naturally and the fetus begins to suffer from hypoxia. In these cases, the medicine is prescribed at 41-43 weeks to increase the intensity of contractions. This can significantly reduce the duration of labor. The medication is recommended for heavy menstruation or open uterine bleeding as part of complex therapy. If the separation of the endometrium is unsatisfactory, the drug “Oxytocin” is prescribed after childbirth (caesarean section) or abortion.

What doctors say about Oxytocin

Reviews from doctors about the medicine are mixed. On the one hand, the drug is praised for:

• cheapness. Oxytocin is several times cheaper than other drugs for abortion - the same Mifepristone tablets;
• safety for the woman's body. The active substance is an analogue of the human hormone, therefore it causes almost no complications;
• effectiveness in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Oxytocin induces labor, which is considered a better alternative to surgery.

On the other hand, few specialists will stop at praising - everyone will definitely say their “but”. Oxytocin is criticized for:

• incomplete removal of the fetus, which occurs quite often. In this case, the patient has to undergo two operations at once - abortion and curettage;
• the inability to remove the embryo during an early abortion, which is also not uncommon. Then the fetus remains in the uterus, and the doctor has to look for another way to terminate the pregnancy;
• side effects. Despite the fact that they occur rarely, they can cause significant harm to a woman’s health.

Many obstetricians and gynecologists, when performing medical abortions, prefer Mifegin and Mifepristone tablets. These products are considered more effective and safe. The tablets affect hormonal levels, due to which blood exchange between the fetus and the uterus is disrupted, and the embryo dies. With the help of muscle contractions it is pushed out.

Other experts are using medications that block the production of progesterone.

additional information

The drug "Oxytocin" for abortion is allowed for use only in hospital settings under the close supervision of a doctor. Such precautions must be observed due to the fact that the drug may cause too much stimulation of the smooth muscles of the uterus, which, in turn, will cause rupture of the organ or the development of bleeding.

Oxytocin is a synthetic hormonal drug and is similar in structure and action to a similar human hormone. Its action in the body is reduced to stimulation of smooth muscles, which in turn provokes uterine contractions. Due to this property, oxytocin is widely used in gynecology. In particular, a medicinal analogue of the natural hormone oxytocin is used to terminate pregnancy.

When oxytocin enters the body of a pregnant woman, it can trigger a miscarriage by causing contractions. For abortion, this drug is used mainly in early pregnancy. Although this method is a less traumatic alternative to surgical termination of pregnancy, it is dangerous due to the possible opening of bleeding. Therefore, oxytocin is used as an abortion agent while the embryo is small in size and has not yet had time to thoroughly attach to the wall of the uterus.

Use of oxytocin during pregnancy

But there are situations when its use is necessary for more serious periods, for example, in the case of frozen pregnancy in the second and third trimesters. A surgical abortion in this situation would be difficult, one would have to resort to intrauterine destruction of the fetus with the help of instruments, or perform a caesarean section, and the administration of oxytocin, in fact, provokes labor. Oxytocin is also used in situations of incomplete miscarriage to help the uterus cleanse itself of the remains of a dead embryo and endometrium. Artificial stimulation of smooth muscles is caused not only in situations requiring termination of pregnancy, but also during labor induction in its later stages. Thus, oxytocin is used during pregnancy at 41-43 weeks, when labor does not occur naturally, and the post-term fetus begins to suffer from hypoxia. This hormone is used to intensify contractions in case of weak labor, which allows to reduce the time of labor.

Oxytocin as a treatment method

It is also appropriate to use oxytocin in case of unsatisfactory separation of the endometrium after an abortion or cesarean section.

For heavy periods or bleeding, oxytocin is prescribed in combination with hemostatic agents. Along with all of the above, there are known cases when oxytocin was used for congestive processes in the mammary glands. Introducing it into the body of a nursing woman causes milk to flow out.

Contraindications to the use of oxytocin

Contraindications to the use of oxytocin are:

Consequences of using oxytocin

Oxytocin is approved for use only in a medical facility under the supervision of a physician. This precaution is valid because this hormone can cause a strong enough stimulation of smooth muscles that can lead to a situation of uterine rupture and cause bleeding.

Is it possible to terminate an unwanted pregnancy with oxytocin or another similar drug? These questions are often asked by girls who, for some reason - out of fear that their situation will be found out or because of financial difficulties, are trying to find a way to cause a miscarriage on their own. Well, some women consider oxytocin itself acceptable, since this drug is used by doctors to induce contractions during incomplete abortion and even during childbirth with weak labor.

But medical abortion with oxytocin is not performed. For these purposes, other drugs are used, those that cannot be purchased freely at the pharmacy. And not all clinics and doctors have the right to perform abortion using pills, but only those who have a license to do so. The drugs used to terminate pregnancy are a progesterone antagonist (mifepristone) and prostaglandin (misoprostol) - it induces labor. So, doctors clearly answer the question “do they use oxytocin to terminate early pregnancy” - no, only misoprostol. And that only after taking mifepristone. Otherwise, the drug may not work. And that's why. Mifepristone suppresses the action of progesterone, a hormone that is absolutely necessary for the development of pregnancy. This has a negative effect on the endometrium and at the same time leads to the fact that the muscular layer of the uterus becomes sensitive to prostaglandins. It begins to contract more often and stronger. At the same time, the cervix is ​​ripening. And then, 36-48 hours after mifepristone, the woman takes misoprostol, and literally within an hour she begins to have productive contractions.

Of course, medical abortion costs money. This includes examinations before and after a miscarriage, and the cost of medications, which are not cheap. But nevertheless, it is better to spend money than to experience the consequences of using oxytocin as a drug. There will be severe pain in the uterine area and contractions, but they are unlikely to lead to a miscarriage. The body is not ready for it. And even if they do, it’s not at all a fact that the miscarriage will be complete. And you still can’t do without medical help. Don't risk your health.

By the way, there are contraindications to the use of oxytocin to terminate pregnancy, even in the second trimester. These are placenta previa (as severe bleeding is possible), gestosis, cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension.

In the first trimester, taking the drug is possible only under medical supervision and only after taking mifepristone and misoprostol, if the miscarriage was not complete. Or in case of incomplete spontaneous miscarriage, so as not to clean the uterus.

Oxytocin is a hormonal drug. Since it is similar to a natural human hormone, the product is relatively safe for the mother’s body.

Today, oxytocin is widely used in gynecology, since the use of this medicine is more gentle compared to other methods. Smooth muscle tone is regulated by numerous hormones, including oxytocin. This remedy leads to uterine contractions and is used for various congestive processes in the mammary glands.

The drug is often used as a solution for parenteral use. The solution form for injection is better because the main active ingredient of the tablets is quickly destroyed in the gastrointestinal tract.

This drug in tablets is not effective for abortion; there are other drugs for this. As a rule, the doctor recommends this form of medication to women after childbirth and abortion as a stimulation of uterine contractions.

How is Oxytocin used for medical abortion?

A less traumatic abortion with medication is a reasonable alternative to surgical termination of pregnancy.

Oxytocin is used to get rid of the fetus at the following times:

• up to 4–5 weeks (mid-embryonic period);
• from 14 weeks.

Medical abortion is carried out exclusively in medical institutions under the supervision of doctors. Provoking a miscarriage at home is extremely dangerous - in essence, the woman is undergoing a criminal abortion.

Consequences of the “home” procedure:

• inability to give birth in the future;
• severe bleeding;
• death.

Oxytocin for abortion is used only in clinics

Early abortion

So, the drug introduced into the body increases the tone of the uterus, which begins to actively contract. Under such conditions, it is not easy for the fertilized egg to attach to the walls; most often it is simply rejected and comes out with a small amount of blood.

This method has disadvantages:

• due to intense contractions of the uterus, there is a high risk of rupture and severe bleeding;
• the fertilized egg does not leave the uterine cavity in all cases; remaining in the body, the embryo seems to mummify, turn to stone, and the woman experiences severe nagging pain in the lower abdomen.

As a result, the patient will most likely need a surgical operation, which she just wanted to avoid by coming to the clinic for a medical abortion.

Therefore, in medical practice, much more often than Oxytocin, safer means are used to remove the fertilized egg - Mifepristone, Mifegin and Misoprostol tablets.

Late abortion

Termination of pregnancy in late stages is actually an artificial birth.

The action of Oxytocin in this case is similar to the action of a natural hormone. The drug is administered in the dose necessary to expel the fetus. First, the cervix dilates, which indicates that labor has begun. Oxytocin stimulates the process. Contractions begin and the baby comes into the world.

After the procedure, if necessary, the doctor performs cleaning.

In medicine, there are cases where the body of a pregnant woman did not respond to the administration of Oxytocin. The reason is individual sensitivity, or more precisely, insensitivity to the drug.

After an abortion

When the fetus comes out, it is very important that no remnants of “consumable material” linger in the uterus - otherwise, after an abortion, an inflammatory process and intoxication of the body are inevitable. Thus, the endometrium, the mucous membrane lining the organ cavity, is completely removed.

To ensure that the endometrium comes out entirely, Oxytocin is used. The medicine, following its “program,” increases contractions of the uterus - as a result, the remnants of the mucous membrane are pushed out. It turns out to be a kind of medicinal “cleaning”.

Purpose

Oxytocin for abortion is popular in obstetrics and gynecology. After entering a woman’s body, the drug causes contractions and provokes a miscarriage. But this method has a side effect - the danger of bleeding. As a rule, doctors prescribe oxytocin only in the early stages of pregnancy, when the embryo is still small and not well attached to the uterus.

This hormonal drug is used in other cases, for example, in the 2nd–3rd trimesters during a frozen pregnancy. This choice is justified by the fact that a surgical abortion would be much more painful and difficult. Sometimes doctors prescribe oxytocin in cases where an incomplete miscarriage has occurred; this helps to better cleanse the uterus of embryonic remnants.

There are cases when doctors prescribe this hormonal drug at 42 weeks of pregnancy. The doctor resorts to this technique because the baby is overbearing and the baby is suffering from hypoxia. Only the need for such stimulation can arise solely according to the doctor’s decision, and not based on the wishes of the woman in labor. The risk may not be worth it. This injection is recommended only in the following cases:

• The discharge of the amniotic fluid of the woman in labor occurred prematurely.
• There is a risk of infection of the fetus.
• The presence of Rh conflict between mother and child.
• Weakness of labor.

If there is a need to stimulate an induced miscarriage, then injections can be given immediately after medications that stimulate the opening of the uterus.

Often this method is resorted to due to a non-developing pregnancy or various malformations of the baby.

"Oxytocin" after pregnancy

After surgical termination of pregnancy, Oxytocin is used to actively cleanse the uterine cavity of fetal debris. Also, after pregnancy and childbirth, this remedy is used in case of prolonged and heavy bleeding from the uterus due to its weak tone. The drug stimulates the cramping activity of the uterus, due to which its cavity is cleared of blood clots, remnants of the placenta and the “baby place”, and in combination with taking anticoagulants, bleeding is closed.

Oxytocin can also be used for the same purpose after medical termination of pregnancy.

Possible side effects from use during pregnancy

In addition to the dangerous side effects that the drug has described above, it should be noted that it passes into breast milk or the blood of the fetus in very small quantities.

It will also be useful for you to learn more about such examinations as abdominal ultrasound, colposcopy, Zimnitsky test, D-dimer, CTG, KTR, RFMC, first screening, second screening, Doppler ultrasound, fluorography, cysts.

However, the main side effect of taking this drug during pregnancy is its termination. Normally, during pregnancy, for the purpose of gestation and preservation, the body strictly controls the amount of the natural human hormone oxytocin in the blood. And this quantity is very small in order to avoid the risk of miscarriage.

Important! The drug can cause massive bleeding, severe tachycardia and arrhythmia, an allergic reaction, anaphylactic shock, coma and even death. Therefore, its use is possible only in hospital settings.

Contraindications to termination of pregnancy using medications

Contraindications are:

• pathologically narrow pelvis;
• positioning of the baby across the uterus, not along it;
• presentation of the fetus head down;
• possibility of uterine rupture;
• Caesarean section, traumatic birth and a history of multiple births as conditions predisposing to uterine rupture;
• placenta previa;
• fetal compression;
• arterial hypertension;
• chronic renal failure.

Did you know? The advent and development of ultrasound examination allowed parents to find out the sex of their unborn child. In this regard, the number of abortions has increased at a record level, as parents did not want a child of a certain gender.

Method of application and action

As a rule, oxytocin injections for medical abortion are given intramuscularly. The medicine can be injected not only intramuscularly, but also intravenously. This method of administration can cause an immediate reaction. Induced contractions sometimes stop only after 1.5 hours.

After intramuscular injection, spasms may appear within 5 minutes and last 2–3 hours. First, a woman in labor may feel pain in the lower abdomen, and then heaviness and lumbago in the lower back. Such sensations are considered normal.

The doctor should pay more attention to the woman’s condition if there is a decrease in blood pressure or a decrease in heart rate. If immediately after 1 dose the woman moves more, the process of medical abortion will be easier and faster. Just don’t overdo it, everything should be done in moderation.

The medicine acts quite quickly; within 1 hour after the injection, mucus and blood begin to separate, which sometimes takes 1-2 days. From this moment on, the woman will need peace and, of course, the help of a doctor or nurse.

Oxytocin analogues

In pharmacies there are drugs that doctors use to replace Oxytocin. All analogues have the same effect, similar composition, indications and contraindications. They differ slightly in price and speed of impact. Here are some:

• Oxytocin-Richter. Produced in Hungary. The composition of the drug is completely identical to Oxytocin. Price per package - 51 rubles;
• Oxytocin-MEZ. Produced in Russia. Differs from Oxytocin in the composition of excipients (chlorobutanol hemihydrate, acetic acid to pH 3.0–4.5, water for injection). It acts faster - the effect comes in 1-2 minutes, but lasts less - 20-30 minutes. Price per package - 26 rubles;
• Oxytocin-Grindeks. Produced in Latvia. Excipients: chlorobutanol hemihydrate, 1 M acetic acid solution, water. When administered intravenously, the effect occurs immediately and stops after 40 minutes. When administered intramuscularly, the effect begins after 3–5 minutes and ends after 1 hour. Price - 30–35 rubles.

The drug Oxytocin-MEZ, which is produced by the Moscow Endocrine Plant, is not inferior in effectiveness to its analogues.
When choosing a particular type of drug, rely on your doctor.

Contraindications

Oxytocin should not be used if the fetus is abnormally positioned, there are scars, placenta previa, a narrow pelvis, or individual intolerance. The use of the drug can lead to completely unpredictable consequences.

If the fetus is not positioned correctly, the administration of oxytocin can lead to the death of the child. In case of placenta previa, the medicine can most likely provoke placental abruption and miscarriage. And if there is a scar, there is a possibility of uterine rupture. The use of oxytocin during childbirth in a woman with a narrow pelvis can lead to injury not only to the child, but also to the mother.

The use of the drug is contraindicated for women in labor who have had a cesarean section or have any stitches on the uterus after surgery. If this contraindication is ignored, severe bleeding or even uterine rupture is possible.

Sometimes oxytocin injections do not help to completely cleanse the reproductive organ and there is a need for additional curettage. So everything is very individual and it is possible to use two methods of medical abortion at the same time.

Oxytocin should be used carefully during multiple pregnancies, because when the baby leaves the cervix, frequent contractions of the uterus are likely to cause irreparable damage to the fetus. In cases of poor oxygen supply, the administration of oxytocin may impair the blood supply to the placenta.

Contraindications to the use of oxytocin

The use of Oxytocin is possible only after examination by a gynecologist. If it is necessary to induce labor, this drug should only be used in a medical facility under the strict supervision of doctors.

There are a number of diagnoses for which the use of oxytocin is contraindicated: • In the case when, after curettage, the woman’s blood pressure rapidly increased, as well as fainting and dizziness; • Severe bleeding with threat of premature birth; • Oxytocin should never be used if the woman has been given other hormonal medications within five hours; • If there is a suspicion that a caesarean section will be necessary due to the baby being too large; • If the child is not lying correctly; • In the case when the previous birth ended with a cesarean section; • Oxytocin is prescribed with extreme caution during multiple pregnancies, due to the fact that strong uterine contractions can harm children.

These contraindications should not be ignored, as it can cause irreparable harm to the woman herself and the unborn baby.

Precautionary measures

The use of the drug is possible only as prescribed by an experienced gynecologist. The use of this drug to stimulate labor should occur under the supervision of a physician. The dosage of the drug should not exceed the permissible norm, otherwise uncontrolled reactions are possible.

If contraindications to oxytocin are ignored, overly strong stimulation of labor, uterine rupture, or excessive bleeding may occur. The dosage of this drug is selected individually for each patient. Improper administration of the drug can lead to a decrease in blood pressure and a decrease in heart rate. Even a qualified doctor in a hospital setting can never guarantee that the procedure is 100% safe.

Pregnancy is a natural process for any woman, but such a combination of circumstances sometimes leads to the need for medical interruption of embryo development. To exclude abortion, special contraceptives should be used.

Today in gynecological practice there are several types of artificial abortion that are completely safe for health: vacuum aspiration (mini-abortion), uterine curettage under anesthesia, stimulation of miscarriage with medications. In this article we will dwell in more detail on the drug “Oxytocin” for abortion, since even reliable means of protection against pregnancy can fail.

In what cases can you not have an abortion using an injection, when such an abortion is contraindicated?

Abortions are not performed by medication (using a special injection) starting from the seventh week of pregnancy. At earlier stages, the patient must undergo a mandatory ultrasound examination to determine the exact age of the fetus.

Administering an injection does not guarantee getting rid of an unwanted child.

Its effectiveness is high and amounts to 93%, but in some cases it does not give the expected result and the woman has to have an abortion in the traditional way - through surgery. It should be remembered that medical abortion cannot always be used.

Termination of pregnancy with an injection - contraindications

There are a number of contraindications to non-surgical abortions:

1. The pregnancy period exceeds 7 weeks, or 50 days;
2. the course of an ectopic pregnancy;
3. low coagulative parameters, tendency to bleeding;
4. treatment with corticosteroids that prevent the formation of inflammation for a long time;
5. increased sensitivity and risk of allergies to oxytocin, methotrexate, misoprostol;
6. kidney pathologies.

When deciding to get rid of a child with the help of special medications, it is necessary to take into account the above contraindications, so as not to provoke possible complications and harm your health.

What is Oxytocin?

This is a hormone in our body that is produced by the hypothalamus and deposited in the processes of the neuron of the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Normally, the quantitative content of oxytocin is constant throughout the cyclic bleeding of the genital tract. But with the onset of the period of gestation, its content increases and reaches its highest content in the circulatory system at the moment of the onset of labor.

It provokes the onset of labor by activating uterine contractions. During breastfeeding, oxytocin supports the production of breast milk in women due to its effect on special secretory cells surrounding the structural and functional formations of the mammary glands. This promotes the movement of milk into the large ducts and milk sinuses. Moreover, not long ago scientists discovered the following facts: that this hormone is responsible for the maternal instinct and feelings of joy after the birth of a baby.

In the second half of the 20th century, scientists managed to produce this hormone chemically. Although it has been known for a long time to stimulate labor, which plays the most important role in the process of childbirth. Previously, it was synthesized from the circulatory system of animals (most often cattle). With the advent of a synthetic product, it began to be widely used in gynecology and obstetrics.

A synthetic hormonal drug is destroyed when taken orally under the influence of an acidic environment and enzymes of the gastrointestinal tract.

How to enter

The drug can be administered in different ways:

• Intramuscular administration. In order to terminate a pregnancy, an injection is given into the cervix. The result of therapy is observed within 5 minutes after the start of drug administration, but lasts approximately 3 hours. When using the medication after childbirth, the injection can be administered into the gluteal muscle. The dosage is 0.5 IU.
• Intravenous. Most often used. When the medicine is administered, the uterus reacts to it almost immediately. The duration of the effect is approximately one and a half hours. The medication for this method is diluted in glucose or physical solution. At the initial stage, oxytocin is administered in small quantities, but later this may increase. From 1 to 3 IU is administered, 10-20 drops per minute.
• Very rarely, specialists inject the medicine under the skin.

It is worth remembering that this procedure cannot be carried out at home. The amount of medicines is selected only by a specialist, based on the patient’s condition.

The effect of Oxytocin on the body

This synthetic drug is completely similar in composition to the natural hormone that is produced in our body. Oxytocin deliberately causes contractions and contractions of the uterine muscles. The drug is administered intravenously or intramuscularly. With the first method of administering the drug, the effect occurs almost instantly and only after 1.5 hours the contractions stop. With the second method of administration, it begins its activity after 5 minutes. and continues to have an effect for 2-3 hours.

The pregnant woman begins to feel the effect of the drug immediately after administration. It is based on the appearance of nagging pain in the lower abdomen. Sometimes there is a feeling of heaviness and acute pain in the lumbar region. The appearance of these signs indicates that the termination of pregnancy is proceeding correctly.

After administering the first dosage, a pregnant woman should increase physical activity if possible. If severe pain is present, then movements should be gentle. This forced event is necessary for a simpler and faster termination of pregnancy.

The release of mucous contents mixed with blood (an hour after the injection) indicates the beginning of pregnancy interruption. From this point on, increased supervision by a medical professional is required. After the termination of the abortion procedure, the woman may experience light bleeding, which is normal. Duration varies from 1 hour to 2 days. Throughout this entire period, the woman continues to be given oxytocin injections. The dosage is selected individually for each specific case. Everything will depend on the course of the abortion procedure and the woman’s well-being. As a rule, 1 injection of oxytocin is prescribed every 24 hours.

Indications for the use of oxytocin

This drug is available in tablet form and also in liquid form. It is prescribed extremely rarely in tablets, since when it enters the stomach, its juice “eats” all its active components. In most cases, to terminate pregnancy, oxytocin is prescribed intravenously or intramuscularly.

After the birth of a child, a young mother is also prescribed this medicine, as it helps to shorten the rehabilitation period of the uterus.

Indications for the use of oxytocin:

If after childbirth the place has not completely come out, then Oxytocin is prescribed after curettage. Also, this drug cannot be replaced in case of severe bleeding of the uterus and subsequent abortion. After childbirth, oxytocin is prescribed to enhance contractions of the uterine muscles and to avoid large blood loss. After a caesarean section, this drug is injected into the uterus itself for the same purposes.

During labor, Oxytocin is used to force the uterus to contract, which helps speed up the process. When this medicine enters a woman’s body, a small dose reaches the child, which will cause him absolutely no harm, and at the same time it will cause strong activity of the uterus, which will last for a long time.

Most doctors recommend using Oxytocin only for treatment and prevention purposes, but they strongly advise against using it for spontaneous miscarriage!

Most often, the drug is prescribed to speed up the process of childbirth, when delay can cost the life of mother and child. Doctors note some other situations in which Oxytocin is needed: • To prevent spontaneous miscarriage; • In case of bleeding from the uterus; • After curettage; • The presence of protein in the tests of the expectant mother; • In case of a sudden surge in pressure; The drug is not replaceable for all of the above diagnoses, since it poses a threat to the life of a pregnant woman and her child.

The amount and frequency of use of the drug can only be prescribed by a doctor, after tests and a thorough examination of the pregnant woman.

Instructions for use

The official instructions do not say that the drug can be specifically used to terminate an unwanted pregnancy. And the indications for use are:

• Termination of an unsuccessful or complicated pregnancy in the later stages (after 20 weeks);
• Stimulation of labor activity during prolonged labor;
• Caesarean section (during surgery);
• Weak uterine muscle tone or lack thereof;
• Poor uterine contractility after childbirth;
• Delayed postpartum uterine discharge;
• In case of incomplete miscarriage (if there are remains of the fetus or endometrium and blood clots);
• Stopping uterine bleeding;
• Congenital pathologies of the fetus are incompatible with normal life activities.

Dosage

The drug is intended for intravenous or intramuscular administration in a dose of 1 to 3 IU. When performing a cesarean section, the recommended dosage is 5 IU for injection directly into the uterine muscles. In gynecology, a dose of 5 to 10 IU is prescribed by injection into the gluteal muscle or under the skin.

Important: The dosage calculation is made only by a specialist, since the final dose is directly dependent on numerous factors: duration, characteristics of the gestation period. The amount of oxytocin administered affects the frequency and end time of uterine contractions.

Mode of application

Preference is given to intramuscular administration. Intravenous administration is prescribed if intramuscular injection does not give a positive result or an immediate effect is required. The drug is injected into a vein slowly.

Important: If the product is stored in an alcohol solution, you must rinse the syringe in distilled water before injecting it.

Contraindications

• A pathological condition in which the placenta is partially or completely located in the lower segment of the uterus;
• Anatomically narrow pelvis;
• Serious complication of late pregnancy (preeclampsia);
• Cardiovascular diseases;
• Incorrect position of the fetus (transverse or oblique);
• Sutures on the uterus after cesarean section or other surgical interventions on this organ;
• Existing ruptures and damage to the walls of the uterus;
• Underdevelopment of the cervix;
• Use of hormonal drugs 5 hours before the administration of a synthetic hormone;
• Changes in blood pressure;
• Ectopic pregnancy;
• Abnormal development or impending uterine rupture;
• Impaired functions of the adrenal cortex;
• Individual intolerance.

Side effect

From the woman's side:

• Increased heart rate;
• Blood pressure surges;
• Nausea, gag reflex;
• Poor blood circulation in the brain;
• Brain hemorrhages;
• The appearance of bronchial spasms;
• Anaphylactic shock;
• Increased uterine tone;
• Persistent contractions of the uterus.

From the fetus:

• Fetal compression;
• A state of increasing suffocation caused by a severe lack of oxygen;
• Impaired blood supply;
• Death of the fetus.

Important: The use of oxytocin is possible only in a hospital setting, only under the supervision of a specialist. The drug is administered in the dose calculated by the doctor depending on the health of the pregnant woman and the results of previous examinations.

Release form

Available in ampoules of 1 or 2 ml (5 or 10 IU) in a cardboard package of 5 pieces. Sold by retail pharmacies without a prescription form.

Storage conditions

Store in a cool place, protected from direct sunlight. Belongs to list B.

Oxytocin - description

Human oxytocin is directly related to childbirth and lactation. It stimulates the contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterus, causing labor contractions, and promotes the contraction of myoepithelial cells of the mammary glands, due to which milk is pushed into the milk ducts. It also to some extent affects the production of prolactin, the lactation hormone. In addition to all this, it has been proven that oxytocin affects the psycho-emotional state of a woman in labor, causing her a feeling of attachment to the baby, known as “imprinting.”

Typically, the amount of natural hormone in the body is small, stable and does not fluctuate during a woman’s menstrual cycle or while pregnant. Its quantity begins to gradually increase only at the very end of the gestation period. Its highest concentration is observed at night, decreasing slightly during the day. It is for this reason that labor most often begins at night. The concentration of oxytocin reaches its peak at the beginning of the third labor period.

Find out more information about such diseases of women as: bartholinitis, inflammation of the appendages, endometriosis, leukoplakia, erosion, uterine fibroids, amenorrhea, menopause, dysbacteriosis.

In medicine, the synthetic drug Oxytocin is produced. It is used in several situations, which, however, pursue the same goal - to rid the mother’s body of the child. The use of "Oxytocin" is possible to terminate pregnancy both in the early and late stages of gestation, as well as to stimulate labor if it is insufficient or to induce premature and planned birth. Taking the drug must have a medical basis, be prescribed by a doctor and used under the supervision of a doctor.

Did you know? An embryo does not experience pain until 12 weeks, since its nervous system and brain are not yet developed. The cerebral cortex perceives pain impulses, and at this age it is not yet formed.

Mechanism of action

Receptors that perceive the effects of Oxytocin are found only in the smooth muscles of the uterus and mammary glands. The number of receptors is not constant and changes depending on fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels. The uterus and ducts of the mammary glands react to the drug with contractile activity. The uterus begins to contract and contractions occur. A small amount of colostrum may appear in the breasts of a nulliparous woman.

Methods of administration

The medicine is produced in a solution for intravenous and intramuscular injection, as well as in the form of tablets.

For intramuscular abortion, an injection of Oxytocin must be given directly into the uterus. Intramuscular injections are not used very often due to the not too rapid effect of the substance on the woman’s uterus.

The most common method of administration is intravenous administration. Entering directly into the blood, the hormone begins to act within 1–3 minutes and its effect lasts about 3 hours.

Oxytocin tablets are used for planned termination of pregnancy, but this method is not particularly popular due to the fact that the active substance is destroyed in the gastrointestinal tract.

Analogues of a synthetic drug

Today several similar drugs are known. These are “Desaminooxytocin”, “Syntocinon”, “Pitocin”, as well as “Oxytocin” from other producing countries.

Effect of Oxytocin injections to terminate pregnancy

The biochemical mechanism of action of the synthetic hormone is based on its exciting, stimulating effect on the smooth uterine muscles. Helps increase contractile function and tone of the muscular apparatus of the uterus. This occurs by releasing intracellular calcium ions, which have an effect on the contractile apparatus of the cells of the muscular layer of the uterus.

The termination takes place under the strict supervision of a specialist, who, after completion of the abortion, will check whether the fertilized egg has been completely removed.

The greatest effect appears only after the 14th week of gestation, when an artificial termination of pregnancy is performed. This forced medical event is carried out strictly according to indications. This drug should be used only after the administration of drugs that promote dilatation of the cervix.

And also at a short period of gestation, it is possible to use a synthetic hormone, but only if the embryo has not yet fully established itself in the muscular uterine layer or if there are contraindications to other types of abortive measures: termination of pregnancy before 6 weeks with special medications based on mifepristone or with 6 to 12 weeks with surgical intervention.

What is a hot injection for early pregnancy termination?

It is believed that pregnancy can be stopped with a hot injection. Including without negative consequences for the female body. the real misconception. However, there are those who sincerely believe these fictions. Of course, those who don’t know anything about medicine.

Any abortion is a dangerous event for the female body, so gynecologists rightly remind women about simple methods of contraception. You need to know the following about hot injections: it can only be used as an abortion, theoretically, that’s the first thing. Secondly, you should never give a hot injection yourself.

Analogues of the synthetic drug "Oxytocin"

To date, the only exception is the drug “Desaminooxytocin”, which is produced in the form of tablets. Which contains oxytocin with deaminated cysteine. It is used by dissolving under the tongue. It has good absorption in the oral cavity and has a stronger effect on the body than oxytocin. It is prescribed to speed up the postpartum recovery process of the uterus and increase breast milk production.

Other oxytocin substitutes: Syntocyon, Ipofamin, Ocytocin, Orastin, Oksistin, Partokon and others. These are solutions for parenteral use.

Why can oxytocin be used only under medical supervision?

Oxytocin has a number of side effects. It expands the milk alveoli, so colostrum can be released from the breast. At the level of the brain, the hormone interacts with mediators that are responsible for thinking and remembering, so some patients note a decrease in memory and attention.

Oxytocin also has a vasodilatory effect, increasing renal blood flow. Patients may experience exacerbation of pyelonephritis, increased blood pressure, and increased urination. However, taking oxytocin usually causes a decrease in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate. The condition worsens over several hours, so the woman spends 2-3 days in the hospital.

It is forbidden to take oxytocin on your own. This is fraught with the following complications:

• uterine rupture;
• uterine hypertonicity;
• hypotension;
• tachycardia;
• heart rhythm disturbances;
• vomiting;
• anaphylactic shock.

After taking oxytocin, the woman follows the same recommendations as after a regular abortion.

Oxytocin to induce periods

As the only strong stimulator of uterine contractions, oxytocin is used for delayed menstruation. It is important to understand the reason that caused the delay in menstruation. Many factors can affect the ovarian cycle. Delay can occur with frequent and severe stress, excessive hormonal loads, heavy physical work, illness, exhaustion and pregnancy.

If your period is delayed for a long time, you should not put off going to the gynecologist, because this can be fraught with a deterioration in the general condition of the body. Only with the permission of the gynecologist, in order to induce menstruation at home, an injection of oxytocin is given intramuscularly, intravenously, or taken orally in tablet form.

Oxytocin in gynecology

In the field of gynecology and obstetrics, Oxytocin for abortion is not a specialized, only indication. As a rule, in most cases it is prescribed for:

• stimulation of labor when diagnosing weak and unproductive uterine contractions;
• prevention of bleeding after abortion, curettage;
• increased uterine contractions in the early postpartum period;
• improving lactation after childbirth;
• early delivery in post-term pregnancy;
• reducing the risk of damage to the fetus in the breech position during childbirth;
• uterine contractions after cesarean section.

Important: only a small dose of active substances penetrates the placental barrier and is not capable of harming the development of the fetus.

How and in what proportions to inject Oxytocin to achieve a therapeutic effect, as well as to terminate pregnancy, is determined by the doctor.

Side effects from taking Oxytocin

The drug can provoke the development of adverse side effects.

Attention: Oxytocin is prohibited to be used independently, without medical indications for termination of pregnancy.

All manipulations must be carried out in a hospital under the supervision of doctors and only for a specific purpose. But even if all the rules are followed, there is a risk of:

• allergic reactions;
• nausea, vomiting;
• heart rhythm disturbances – bradycardia, arrhythmias;
• high blood pressure;
• urinary retention;
• excessive labor;
• threat of uterine rupture or premature placental abruption;
• neonatal jaundice of the newborn.

Contraindications

Before prescribing a drug, the doctor must make sure that the woman has no contraindications to its use. The annotation indicates the undesirable use of Oxytocin for:

• fibroids;
• scarring of the cervix;
• dysfunctions of the adrenal cortex;
• hypersensitivity to at least one of the components of the drug;
• pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
• transverse, oblique presentation of the fetus;
• premature placental abruption;
• intrauterine;
• preeclamptic toxemia.

Taking Oxytocin to terminate a pregnancy is also prohibited at home without proper supervision by medical personnel, as such actions are considered a criminal offense.

Currently, Oxytocin is used extremely rarely in obstetric and gynecological practice to terminate early pregnancy. In modern medicine, drugs are actively used in the form of tablets based on prostaglandins E2 and E2 alpha - biologically active substances responsible for contraction of the muscles of the uterus.

Oxytocin is a hormone responsible for uterine contractions during childbirth and the postpartum period. However, the use of oxytocin is not limited to childbirth. The instructions for the drug allow its use for abortion. We will talk about how to use oxytocin during abortion and what consequences this can lead to in this article.

Contractions of the uterus during childbirth are stimulated by the hormone oxytocin: it acts on the muscles of the uterus through special receptors, the number of which gradually increases from the 14th week of gestation, remains unchanged for a long time and increases by the time of birth.

Side effects

Before injecting oxytocin, you should familiarize yourself with what reactions the drug can provoke:

• Severe nausea and vomiting
• Manifestations of allergies
• Sharp jump in blood pressure
• Urinary retention
• Decrease in fibrinogen in a baby
• Development of arrhythmia or bradycardia
• Excessive stimulation of labor, which leads to placental abruption, which increases the likelihood of uterine rupture
• The occurrence of neonatal jaundice
• Discovery of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Oxytocin-richter

Hormone of synthetic origin. Its pharmacokinetic properties are similar to the human hormone. The drug interacts with the myoepithelial cells of the uterus, causing its contractions. In the clinic, it is used to induce contractions in a woman, stimulating labor. Improves milk excretion from the mammary gland.

It has a vasodilating effect, increases blood flow to the kidneys, brain, and heart. Shows minimal antidiuretic effect.

Methods of administering oxytocin:

When in, the effect on the uterus occurs quickly, but lasts for an hour. If an injection is given intravenously, the effect of the medication begins in 3-5 minutes and lasts 2-3 hours.

Indications:

• primary weakness of labor;
• secondary weakness of labor;
• to stimulate labor;
• with breech presentation of the fetus;
• hypotensive bleeding after abortion;
• after caesarean section;
• to enhance uterine involution in the postpartum period.

Method of drug administration:

Injected intravenously, intramuscularly, into the cervical canal. Intravenously (dropper) 1-3 IU per 10-20 drops. At intramuscular 0.5 IU.

Side effects

On a woman's body:

• uterine bleeding;
• tetanic contraction (convulsions);
• hypertonicity;
• anaphylactic reactions.
• uteroplacental insufficiency.

On the child's body:

• asphyxia;
• fetal compression;
• birth injury;
• bradycardia.

Existing analogues

There are other injections that lead to termination of pregnancy. One of them is the combination of no-shpa with ascorbic acid. This method is also harmful to a woman’s health and, moreover, it is ineffective. Only 10% of unplanned pregnancies can be removed in this way. But pathologies for the fetus are guaranteed for sure.

Progress in the field of medicine has not yet reached such a level as to offer an injection that will 100% eliminate unwanted pregnancy. Therefore, there are only two options: it is better to use contraceptives, or if an unnecessary pregnancy occurs, go to the hospital. Only a doctor can choose the most suitable type of abortion, which will have minimal impact on the woman’s health.

Disadvantages of Oxytocin

Incorrect injection of such an injection can lead to tissue necrosis. Some women, without thinking about this danger, self-administer oxytocin. They believe that the drug is similar to taking special pills that lead to miscarriage. In fact, such amateur activities can cause big health problems.

Even a doctor cannot guarantee that oxytocin used to terminate a pregnancy will be safe for a woman. So, if the dosage is not correct, this can lead to disastrous consequences: after such a procedure there are even cases of uterine rupture.

The hormone is sometimes prescribed by a doctor if serious physiological defects are detected in a 14-16 week old fetus. But even in this case, oxytocin is used only as an adjuvant in conjunction with uterine dilating drugs.

Oxytocin in medicine

The need to use oxytocin can be prescribed by a doctor, and the required dosage is also selected by him. For example, in the case of fetal freezing at a later date. The use of this drug together with other drugs will eliminate the need for an induced abortion or caesarean section.

Oxytocin can also be used in cases of incomplete miscarriage. It will help remove fetal debris and endometrium from the uterus.

The drug in question is sometimes used directly during childbirth. If there are no contractions and signs of hypoxia appear in the fetus, oxytocin will help facilitate labor and save the baby; in addition, the hormone helps reduce the duration of delivery.

Oxytocin is also indispensable in case of unsatisfactory separation of the endometrium, which sometimes happens after an abortion or cesarean section. Also, together with hemostatic agents, this drug will help in case of bleeding from the genital tract.

Less commonly, the administration of oxytocin is associated with congestion in the mammary glands. After the introduction of such a hormone, milk flows out of the nursing mother.

Termination of pregnancy with Oxytocin - indications and timing of the procedure

Women who need to use medication are wondering: how to inject Oxytocin for? This drug can be used for medical abortion to terminate pregnancy, as it is directly involved in starting the process of labor.

The only indication for early pregnancy termination with this substance is the inadmissibility of surgical abortion and medical abortion due to intolerance to mifepristone and misoprostol, which are usually used in medical abortion.

Important!
In the early stages of pregnancy, the use of Oxytocin is possible only until the 6th week, when the embryo has not yet implanted in the wall of the uterus.
To terminate pregnancy in the early stages, Oxytocin is given intravenously through a dropper in the following dosage: 1-3 IU of the drug is diluted in 300-500 ml of a 5% solution and administered from 10 to 30 drops per minute.

However, before administering the drug, it is necessary to open the cervix with medication; it must be dilated and thickened, ready for premature birth.

If it is impossible to place a drip and give the medicine intravenously, you can inject the substance into the muscle. The injection should be made into the wall of the uterus or into the area of ​​the cervix that is closest to the body of the uterus. When administering the drug intramuscularly to terminate a pregnancy, the dosage of Oxytocin is as follows: 0.5–1 IU at intervals of approximately 1 time per hour. If the effect is insignificant, the amount of the drug can be increased.

In other cases, a synthetic hormone is used in late stages of gestation in order to artificially induce labor. This may be necessary due to the mother’s inability to continue bearing the child due to a threat to the life of the mother or fetus. The drug is also used to stimulate weak labor in a woman in labor or if labor does not occur at 41–43 weeks.

Did you know?
Among the ancient Jews, a woman was considered pregnant only after 40 days after conception. Accordingly, until this moment, interruption of pregnancy was not a crime.

Is it realistic to use it to terminate gestation at home?

According to the instructions, the use of Oxytocin, both in injections and tablets, cannot be carried out at home.

The product can only be used when the cervix is ​​dilated. Otherwise, the drug stimulates contraction of the uterus and rejection of the fertilized egg, but the cervix will not dilate and the rejected tissue will not be able to leave the uterine cavity, which can pose a threat to the woman’s life. Uncontrolled use of the drug can cause massive bleeding, uterine rupture, bronchospasm, severe hypertension, shock, and coma. Therefore, it is not recommended to use the drug independently at home.

Important!
The drug has a huge number of side effects and serious contraindications.
Its administration is possible only in a hospital setting and under the close supervision of a doctor. If the dose of Oxytocin exceeds the norm and is administered to terminate a pregnancy at home, the outcome can be fatal.

Cessation of embryo development for up to 12 obstetric weeks

A dangerous condition in which there are no symptoms of miscarriage, but the embryo does not develop. This condition is also called frozen pregnancy.

Treatment of this pathology is carried out only through abortion. The most recommended abortion in this case is surgical. The use of synthetic labor hormone is possible only at a very early stage, when the chance of detecting a frozen pregnancy is very small due to the fact that a planned ultrasound scan of the first trimester is performed exactly at 12–14 weeks. At this time, the drug is already contraindicated. Abortion by other medical means is also undesirable, because there is a high risk of massive abortion, which occurs if the fertilized egg died more than 4 weeks ago, and also because there is a high probability of incomplete cleansing of the uterine cavity from the “baby place”.

Late abortion

The birth hormone is used to terminate pregnancy only in the early stages (the earlier the better, until the fertilized egg is attached) or in late gestation to stimulate labor. Late abortion is not performed with Oxytocin.

"Oxytocin" in late pregnancy

In late gestation (41–43 weeks), the drug is used to stimulate labor when necessary. For example, in the case of discharge of amniotic fluid without the onset of contractions. This condition is dangerous for both mother and child due to the risk of infection. Oxytocin is also used for severe maternal hypertension or Rh conflict between mother and fetus, and for other medical indications. In this case, premature birth is an urgent necessity in order to avoid traumatization of the mother and child.

In late pregnancy, from 42 weeks or more, labor is stimulated with the help of this drug in order to avoid pathologies from the fetus due to being in the womb for too long.