Some people are waiting for the coveted two stripes with hope, but for others this event is a real punishment. Of course, situations in life are different, and we do not undertake to judge anyone. Women who decide to keep their baby, and those who go for an abortion, have made their choice. Today we would like to discuss the topic of abortion from a medical point of view. Is an abortion possible at 12 weeks, what is the time frame for performing this procedure and the possible consequences. About all this and much more in our article today.
Algorithm of actions
First of all, you need to think carefully. It is difficult to predict all the consequences of an abortion, but they can be very serious. Forget about grandma’s methods; any amateur activity in this matter is unacceptable. Abortion at 12 weeks is quite possible; all you need to do is find a competent specialist.
First of all, the doctor must determine the gestational age, according to laboratory tests and ultrasound results. Depending on this, the doctor will suggest a possible way to perform the operation. An abortion at week 12 is late, but for certain indications doctors can perform this procedure throughout almost the entire first trimester.
Symptoms and signs of pregnancy
Is it possible to have an abortion at 5 weeks? At this stage, pregnancy can be terminated at the request of the woman or if there are indications. But first you need to determine that there really is a pregnancy and that it is intrauterine. The main symptom is delayed menstruation. This is what the gynecologist focuses on when consulting a patient who has decided to terminate the pregnancy. The remaining symptoms are nonspecific and subjective, so they are not assessed by a doctor.
Social readings
Cases of pregnancy of minor girls are considered separately. In this case, an abortion can be performed after 12 weeks, but the consent of parents or guardians is required. But this is not the only case when doctors can compromise on deadlines. After 12 weeks, an abortion is performed if there is a court decision on deprivation of parental rights. In this case, doctors agree to terminate the child’s life immediately so that he is not born into a dysfunctional family.
The socio-psychological aspect is no exception. If the pregnancy was the result of rape and the expectant mother can confirm this, then doctors will make allowances for psychological trauma. However, even in this case it is not recommended to wait until the end of the third month. The indication for abortion in the 12th week or later is the death of the husband that occurs during pregnancy.
Medical indications
A doctor can also decide to terminate a pregnancy. Abortion at 12 weeks is considered a late surgical intervention, so quite often the gynecologist suggests making this choice, noting the high risks of developing pathology in the fetus.
Medical indicators primarily include chronic diseases. In this case, the doctor makes an informed decision, taking into account the condition of the expectant mother and excluding medical contraindications to the operation.
What maternal diseases can cause a referral for a medical abortion at 12 weeks? We will list them very briefly, since each specific case must be assessed by the attending physician; do not try to diagnose yourself.
- Acute and subacute diseases of the reproductive system.
- Inflammatory processes.
- Various infections.
Progress of the process
It is quite natural that women want to know how artificial childbirth works, how long it lasts and whether it is a painful process. Everything will depend on which method of artificial termination of pregnancy was chosen by the doctor. Today there are several of them.
- Taking prostaglandins
This is an outdated method of artificial childbirth, which involves taking the hormone prostaglandin. This drug causes contractions by causing the cervix to slowly dilate. It is a painful and lengthy procedure. Now prostaglandin is used for these purposes in tandem with the drug Mifegin. Such artificial births are carried out at 18–20 weeks so that the child is born non-viable.
- Taking Mifegin
This method of artificial childbirth has another name - medical abortion. It is most often carried out in later stages with the help of mifepristone (Mifegin). After 36–48 hours, the patient is given a prostaglandin analogue (Misopristol). Unlike the previous method, this one is considered safer and painless. When a medical abortion is performed for periods of more than 22 weeks, the child in rare cases survives, but is born with severe complications and pathologies. Given this fact, the patient is injected with potassium chloride to kill the fetus: it causes cardiac arrest in the child or cessation of its blood supply through the umbilical cord. In this regard, it is recommended to carry out artificial childbirth at 5 months of pregnancy, but not later.
- Saline abortion / “Filling”
Amniotic fluid (about 200 ml) is pumped out from the amnion (fetal bladder) with a long medical needle, and a hypertonic saline solution (20%) is injected in its place. The fetus dies from hypernatremia (increased sodium concentration in the blood plasma) and dehydration (loss of water). 24–48 hours after such an injection, the fetus is removed. Prostaglandins are used to induce such artificial labor. During a saline abortion, a woman experiences the same sensations as during a normal birth, only the fetus is born much smaller. Often in such cases, completely viable children appear, so doctors use this method less often than surgical abortion.
- Transabdominal method
If there are contraindications to the oral administration of the above solutions, the method of dilating the cervix with the help of medical instruments is used, after which the amniotic sac is opened. The transabdominal method is used quite rarely in such cases, when other methods are contraindicated, as they can lead to cervical rupture, prolonged labor or infection.
Depending on the type of technique chosen, you can find out how long artificial labor lasts: from 12 to 48 hours, like a normal birth. This will be influenced by the duration of pregnancy and the individual characteristics of the woman’s body.
If there is no other option
The sooner you make a decision, the easier the operation will be. Ideally, abortion is performed at 5-7 weeks. The fetus is still small, and the doctor can easily remove it from the uterine cavity. The more you tighten, the bigger the baby becomes. An abortion at week 12 is the removal of a body 6-7 cm long from the uterine cavity. From this time on, the fetus will grow even faster, which means the operation will be more difficult. And not every doctor will take on this.
Pregnancy is terminated by a doctor, obstetrician-gynecologist with appropriate education and practice. The operation itself is not complicated, but doctors act almost blindly, which increases the risk for the woman. Today it is performed under general anesthesia, but in free clinics in the periphery it is often done without anesthesia. Below we will look at what methods doctors use.
conclusions
Termination of pregnancy at 12 weeks can take place without serious consequences only if there are no contraindications, the doctor has extensive experience in performing such operations, and if all recommendations after the abortion are followed. To avoid the development of negative consequences, it is necessary to undergo a control ultrasound in a timely manner, and in the future regularly visit a gynecologist for a preventive examination.
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
Abortion and contraception clinic in St. Petersburg - department of the medical gynecological association "Diana"
Make an appointment, tests or ultrasound via the contact form or by calling +8 (812) 62-962-77. We work seven days a week from 09:00 to 21:00.
We are located in the Krasnogvardeisky district, next to the Novocherkasskaya, Ploshchad Alexander Nevsky and Ladozhskaya metro stations.
The cost of a medical abortion in our clinic is 3,300 rubles. The price includes all pills, an examination by a gynecologist and an ultrasound to determine the timing of pregnancy.
Medical abortion
It is believed that this is the safest way for a woman to get rid of an unwanted child. However, abortion at 12 weeks is almost never done using this method. Despite the fact that the instructions for medications for medical abortion indicate that they can be used before the end of the first trimester, doctors have a slightly different opinion. The fetus at this stage is already large and may not spontaneously leave the uterus. Therefore, if you want to do without surgery, it is better to consult a doctor in advance.
What are the risks of abortion?
The risks of complications from abortion increase as the fetus develops. This is one of the reasons that explains why it may be too late to have an abortion. The other is ethical, when the fetus can already survive outside the uterus. The risks of abortion, including late abortion, include:
- Uterine perforation (rupture of the wall) and infections
- Damage to the cervix
- Bleeding
- Complications from anesthesia
- Preservation of uterine contents (second procedure required)
- Traumatic injury to the genital organs
- In rare cases, death
Complication statistics based on gestational age are as follows:
- up to 8 weeks – less than 1%
- 8-12 weeks – 1.5-2%
- 12-13 weeks – 3-6%
- 2nd trimester – up to 50%
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average risk of death due to abortion is less than 1 in 100,000 people. This risk increases with each week of pregnancy. For example:
- up to 8 weeks inclusive – 1 death for every 530,000 abortions
- 16-20 weeks – 1 death in 17,000
- After 21 weeks inclusive – 1 death in 6000
By comparison, the risk of dying during childbirth is less than 1 in 10,000.
If a medical abortion (using pills) is chosen to terminate a pregnancy, then in order to avoid risks, the woman must meet certain criteria:
- Have access to transport
- Stay away from emergency services in case of severe bleeding
- Have a phone nearby to call a doctor or ambulance if necessary
- There should be someone nearby to help if needed
Due to the above risks, abortions must be performed very carefully, and the methods used must be selected correctly in accordance with the stage of pregnancy.
Mini abortion
Another option, which is preferable, as it is gentle on the female body. It is performed using a vacuum installation. However, it is no longer possible to have an abortion at the 12th week using this method. Most often, a mini-abortion is performed up to 5 weeks, but not all doctors undertake to perform the operation at this time, since the fetus is still very small and there is a risk that some tissue will remain in the uterine cavity and cause infection.
This operation is carried out using vacuum suction under ultrasound control. It is carried out in 5-7 minutes under local anesthesia. This is characterized by the absence of pain and rapid healing. However, if the period is more than 5 weeks, then doctors, out of all the variety of methods, can only offer surgical abortion.
Features of this method
A woman should have a good idea of what she is getting into before she falls into the hands of a surgeon. If the pregnancy is 12 weeks, abortion will only be performed surgically. This operation can only be performed in a specialized medical facility. Medical, surgical abortion involves curettage of the walls of the uterus and removal of the fertilized egg.
As already mentioned, the operation is performed almost blindly. The doctor expands the cervical canal with metal instruments, after which he uses special forceps to remove the fertilized egg and the remains of the endometrium by curettage of the uterus. Today, the procedure is most often performed using anesthesia or general anesthesia. The woman is under doctor's supervision for several hours after the operation, after which she is discharged home.
Use of medications
As a result of taking hormones prescribed by a doctor, a woman experiences rejection of the fetus from the walls of the uterus. The fetus comes out with bloody discharge, as during menstruation. How many weeks can you use this method? The method is used up to 63 days of pregnancy, but is most effective up to 21 days.
Use of medications
Advantages:
- no damage to the uterus;
- eliminating the possibility of infection;
- carried out without the use of anesthesia;
- minimal mental and physical harm to health.
Disadvantages of the method:
- may not be effective enough, then a vacuum method is additionally used;
- severe bleeding may occur, this situation ends with surgical intervention;
- Severe pain, nausea, and increased blood pressure are possible, since the effect of medications on the body is individual.
Features of abortion at different stages of pregnancy
It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of whether it is possible to have an abortion at 12 weeks. First of all, because every woman’s body is individual. The doctor must conduct a full examination and make an informed decision. Russian legislation establishes maximum periods when a woman can make an independent decision to terminate a pregnancy. This is 12 weeks from the date of the last menstrual period.
It should be noted that this period is not optimal for termination of pregnancy. This is rather the extreme limit, when such an operation is not too dangerous for the female body. If we talk about when it is safest to have an abortion, the answer will always be the same: the earlier, the better.
At the same time, early termination of pregnancy is the most sparing. Hormonal changes are still quite weakly expressed. The risk of complications in this case is minimal. From the 5th to the 8th week, you can still perform the procedure with medication or using a vacuum unit. In this case, internal tissues are not damaged, and therefore the risk of infection is reduced.
Surgical abortion, which is performed by curettage of the uterine cavity, is a traumatic, painful procedure.
"Mifegin": dosage regimen, principle of action
For abortion at the 5th week of pregnancy, mifepristone is used (as part of the drug Mifegin and others). This is a remedy that affects the entire female reproductive system and the body as a whole. Can be used within seven weeks from the day of the last menstruation. The regimen includes a combination of two drugs (mifepristone 600 mg and misoprostol 400 mg), which are taken at intervals of 36 hours.
After taking it in a woman’s body, the synthesis of progesterone, a hormone that supports pregnancy, is blocked, and then the cervix softens and opens. As a result, the fertilized egg detaches, dies from lack of nutrition and oxygen, and is expelled. The drug provokes uterine contractions. In this case, severe pain in the lower abdomen, symptoms of fever, increased body temperature, nausea, vomiting, bleeding of varying intensity, and diarrhea are noted.
Abortion at week 5 (see photo of the drug below) should only take place under the supervision of a doctor. The patient is admitted to the hospital to monitor her condition. You can refuse hospitalization, but in this case you need to sign the appropriate papers, tell the doctors your exact address and contact phone number. In this case, it is advisable that a relative or close person be next to the woman in order to call an ambulance if her health worsens.
How much does an abortion cost at 5 weeks? A medical termination of pregnancy will cost about 6,500-7,500 rubles in total. This amount includes tests in a private clinic, ultrasound, an appointment with a gynecologist and full preparation for the procedure, as well as medications. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, the cost can be about 15,000 rubles.
Consequences of abortion
We have not yet talked about what a woman faces from abortion. You will discuss with your doctor whether this operation can be performed in the 12th week, but you must be warned about the consequences. Doctors say that such an intervention can cause harm both in early and late stages of pregnancy. But practice suggests that the earlier such a decision is made, the more troubles and complications can be avoided.
No doctor wants to harm his patient, but it is very difficult to predict the body’s reaction to such an intervention. Termination of pregnancy entails physiological and hormonal changes, which are reflected in a variety of systemic disorders.
The consequences can appear almost immediately. These are bleeding and complications after anesthesia, various mechanical damage. If the fetus is not completely removed from the uterine cavity, an inflammatory process may begin. However, you should not relax even if you feel well in the first days after an abortion. Late consequences often manifest themselves in the form of inflammation of the uterine tissue, placental polyps and peritonitis.
Long-term consequences are rarely associated with a previously performed operation, but the fact remains. Menstrual irregularities and chronic diseases of the genitourinary system, obstetric pathologies of varying severity, premature birth in the next pregnancy, uterine fibroids and infertility - this is not a complete list of all pathologies that can appear some time after an abortion.
Carrying out vacuum aspiration
The main advantages of the procedure are the possibility of performing an abortion at 5 weeks on an outpatient basis. At the same time, the risk of injury and infection is minimal, the tissues are restored quite quickly. Deviations in hormonal levels and menstrual cycle disorders in patients after a mini-abortion are usually minor.
The procedure takes about five minutes. After this, the patient is recommended to remain in the hospital for several more hours so that doctors can monitor her condition. The gynecologist gives a course of antibiotics and then sends the patient home. For severe pain, painkillers are also prescribed. If there are no complications, you can return to normal activities the next day.
We carefully choose a doctor
If you decide to undergo such an intervention, then you need to find a good clinic where certified doctors work. It is best to ask your local gynecologist where to get an abortion at 12 weeks. Specialists know the level of performance of such operations in city clinics, as they regularly encounter the consequences. Be sure to undergo a complete examination before and after surgery. This way, the doctor will be able to assess the condition of your body, notice deviations in time and prescribe corrective treatment.
