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Last updated: 02/17/2009
Serious complications resulting from abortions performed before 13 weeks are rare. Of the 90% of women who have abortions in this time period, 2.5% have minor complications that can be handled without hospitalization. Less than 0.5% have complications...
that require a hospital stay. The rate of complications increases as the pregnancy progresses.
Only one maternal death occurs per 530,000 abortions performed at eight weeks gestation or less; this increases to one death per 17,000 abortions performed from 16 to 20 weeks, and one death per 6,000 abortions performed over 20 weeks.
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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.
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an obstetrician/gynecologist is a physician specialist who provides medical and surgical care to women and has particular expertise in pregnancy, childbirth, and disorders of the reproductive system.
From: womenshealthchannel.com
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