Type of Surgery
Information
Last updated: 02/17/2009
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.
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Other Information
A pregnancy can be intentionally aborted in many ways. The manner selected depends chiefly upon thegestational age of the embryo or fetus, in addition to the legality, regional availability, and doctor-patient preference for specific procedures. Reasons for procuring induced abortions are typically characterized as either therapeutic or elective. An abortion is medically referred to as therapeutic when it is performed to:
save the life of the pregnant woman;
preserve the woman's physical or mental health;
terminate pregnancy that would result in a child born with a congenital disorder that would be fatal or associated with significant morbidity; or
selectively reduce the number of fetuses to lessen health risks associated with multiple pregnancy.
Any abortion that is not therapeutic is by definition elective.
Other Information
An obstetrician/gynecologist, commonly abbreviated as OB/GYN, can serve as a primary physician and often serve as consultants to other physicians.
From: womenshealthchannel.com
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