What
are ectopic pregnancy and abortion? This guide will teach you about
reproductive health.
The
future of safe and legal abortions has been forced into the spotlight by an
imminent US Supreme Court decision that could mark the end of Roe v. Wade.
Since
the Supreme Court's historic 1973 ruling, abortion has been legal in all 50
states. However, a Mississippi legislation prohibiting most abortions after 15
weeks of pregnancy, which was heard by the high court in December and is
anticipated to be decided this month, could jeopardize the legal precedent.
While
most individuals have heard of abortion, other pregnancy-related procedures and
phrases may be unfamiliar.
ABORTION
Abortion
is the intentional ending of a pregnancy. Surgical and pharmaceutical abortions
are the two types of abortions.
SURGICAL
ABORTIONS
A
medical professional performs surgical abortions. According to experts, the
operation entails dilation of the cervix and removal of pregnancy tissue from
the uterus using a short suction tube or device. A surgical tool called a
curette can be used to remove any residual tissue. Surgical abortions are
frequently performed under the influence of a sedative or local anaesthetic to
numb the cervix.
MEDICATION
ABORTIONS
These
are done without surgery or anaesthetic and are done with medicine. They can be
started at a doctor's office, a hospital, or even at home. Patients may require
follow-up consultations to ensure that no issues arise.
When
parents can undergo a safe medication abortion, there are several restrictions.
A pharmaceutical abortion should not be attempted by anyone who has been
pregnant for longer than nine weeks. Medication abortions are also not viable
if you are using an intrauterine device (a type of birth control), have
specific medical illnesses such as bleeding disorders or severe liver, kidney,
or lung disease, or take blood thinners such as aspirin.
Mifepristone
and misoprostol are the most commonly utilised drugs. Mifepristone suppresses
the hormone progesterone, which maintains the uterus lining thin and prevents
it from carrying the growing embryo and allowing it to grow, which can take
hours or even days after mifepristone is taken, causing the uterus to contract
and expel the embryo.
According
to health experts, the same drugs can be used to help a person's body eliminate
tissue following a miscarriage.
ECTOPIC
PREGNANCY
When
a fertilised egg fails to implant inside the uterus, it is called an ectopic
pregnancy. Instead, it develops outside of the uterus, most usually in a
fallopian tube, which is incapable of supporting a growing embryo. Ectopic
pregnancies can result in bleeding and are a life-threatening condition that
requires prompt medical attention.
Ectopic
pregnancies cannot be carried to term and can result in serious consequences,
such as damage to the fallopian tube or other organs, internal bleeding, or
even death, if not addressed.
VIABILITY
The
term "viability" refers to the stage of foetal development at which a
foetus is capable of surviving outside of the uterus.
TRIMESTER
Pregnancies
are divided into three trimesters, each lasting about 12 to 13 weeks, and are
considered full-term when they reach 40 weeks. Each trimester represents a
particular stage of foetal development, and pregnant women should anticipate having
a variety of symptoms throughout their pregnancy.
According
to UCSF, the first trimester (0 to 13 weeks) is the most crucial stage of
embryonic and foetal development. This is the time when the body's structure
and organs start to take shape. It's also the time of year when the majority of
miscarriages and birth abnormalities occur.
During
the second trimester, development continues (14 to 26 weeks). Pregnant women
can usually feel the foetus' first movements originating from within the uterus
between 16 and 20 weeks.
The
third trimester (weeks 27 to 40) is the last stage of pregnancy before
delivery.
FERTILIZATION
After
sexual intercourse, sperm and egg move through the female reproductive system
and combine in the fallopian tubes to form a zygote, resulting in
fertilisation. After that, a zygote travels to the uterus and continues to
develop until it forms an embryo about two weeks after conception. At around
eight weeks of pregnancy, the embryo develops into a foetus.
THE
‘MORNING-AFTER PILL’
The
"morning-after pill," also known as Plan B, is a type of emergency
contraception that can be used to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex, such
as when birth control fails or is forgotten, or after a sexual assault.
The
pills work by stopping or delaying ovulation, which prevents conception. An
implanted pregnancy is not aborted by the pills.
Morning-after
pills come in two varieties: one that contains levonorgestrel and is marketed
as "Plan B One-Step," and another that contains ulipristal acetate
and is marketed as "Ella." Ella pills require a doctor's
prescription, whereas Plan B One-Step pills can be acquired over-the-counter.
DILATION
AND CURETTAGE
A
dilatation and curettage, often known as a D&C, is a small surgical
treatment that removes tissue from the uterus in a doctor's office or other
medical environments.
According
to the Cleveland Clinic, the technique entails dilating the cervix and scraping
any tissue from the uterine wall with a curette, a small, thin surgical tool.
When a pregnant woman has suffered a miscarriage or needs to remove leftover
tissue following a surgical abortion, a D&C is frequently performed. A
sample of the tissue can be taken and evaluated in a lab once it has been
removed.
MISCARRIAGE
When
a foetus does not survive the 20th week of pregnancy, it is called a
miscarriage. The majority of miscarriages occur when the foetus does not
develop appropriately. Around half of all miscarriages are caused by a foetus
having too many or too few chromosomes.
Health
issues might also cause a pregnancy to end in a miscarriage in some situations.
Uncontrolled diabetes, hormone issues, certain infections, thyroid disorders,
and uterine or cervix difficulties are only a few of them.
A
miscarriage can also be exacerbated by certain risk factors. Age (those over 35
have a higher chance of miscarriage than those under 35); previous miscarriage;
smoking, drinking alcohol, using illicit drugs while pregnant; or being under
or over your ideal weight are all factors to consider.
According
to American Family Physician, the same drugs used in medical abortions,
mifepristone and misoprostol, can also be used to help a person's body
eliminate tissue following a miscarriage.
MISSED
MISCARRIAGE
A missed miscarriage occurs when an embryo or fotus does not survive in the uterus but no symptoms are present in the pregnant woman. The placenta or embryo tissues remain in the uterus in these cases, but the embryo never develops or fails to survive.