Abortion 08

What is abortion?

Abortion is the termination of pregnancy by removing the fetus or embryo from the uterus. It results to the death of the embryo.
There are two types of abortion:

1. spontaneous abortion
2. induced abortion.
   

Spontaneous abortion is the expulsion of the embryo due to accidental trauma and natural causes before the 20th week of pregnancy. In induced abortion, medicine uses surgical procedures and medications. In this case, the expulsion of the embryo is volontary.

What is the differences between spontaneous and induced abortion?

Sponaneous abortion is also called miscarriage, it occurs naturally. There is nothing we can do to avoid it whereas induced abortion is a choice we make.
The risk of spontaneous abortion is greater in those with a known history of several spontaneous abortions or an induced abortion, those with systemic diseases, and those over the age 35. Other causes can be infection (of either the woman or fetus), immune response, or serious systemic disease. A spontaneous abortion can also be caused by accidental trauma; intentional trauma or stress to cause miscarriage is considered induced abortion.

For induced abortion, pregnancy can be intentionally aborted in many ways. The manner selected depends upon the gestational 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;
• selectively reduce the number of fetuses to lessen health risks associated with multiple pregnancy.

How is it performed?

Abortion can be performed in many ways. The differents procedures depend on the stage of the pregnancy.

• The abortion pill : it is a form of early abortion caused by the combination of two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol that is an option for women who are 8 weeks pregnant or less. Also known as RU486 or medication abortion. Misoprostol causes contractions resulting in a miscarriage.

Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone needed to maintain the pregnancy. Because this hormone is blocked, the cervix begins to soften and bleeding may occur. With the later addition of the second medication, misoprostol, the uterus contracts and the pregnancy is usually expelled within 6 to 8 hours. This method can only be used if the woman isn't pregnant more than 8 weeks.

• Suction abortion : It is the most common technique used. In this procedure a suction tube is inserted through the dilated cervix into the womb. A powerful vacuum tears the placenta from the uterus and dismembers the body of the developing child. It can be used until 12 weeks.

• Dilatation and curettage: In this technique, the doctor inserts a curette, a steel knife, into the womb through the dilated cervix. As the curette scrapes the wall of the uterus, the baby is cut into pieces.

• salt poisoning : This technique is used after sixteen weeks,The doctor inserts injects a saline solution into the sac of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby. The baby is poisoned by swallowing the salt and his skin is completely burned away. After the child dies, the mother goes into labor and expels the dead baby.

• Hysterotomy :This abortion procedure is essentially the same as a caesarian section birth, the mother's abdomen is cut open and the child is removed from the womb.

Sources

• wikipedia Abortion [1]
• ProLife [2]
• ProChoice [3]
• BBC abortion [4]
• Ethics matters [5]

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