Abortion Vs Medical Abortion
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One can have a surgical abortion or a medical abortion. The type of procedure one can have depends on how many weeks along the mother is. Some medical conditions also may limit some procedures. Medical abortions, popularly known as ‘the pill’, are medically known by Mifepristone, which is a medication that works by blocking hormone progesterone. Thus, causing the lining of the uterus to break down and the pregnancy cannot continue. This is followed by another pill called misoprostol, which causes the womb to contract. This contraction causes cramping and bleeding, like a miscarriage. The pain is said to be no worse than menstrual pain. Mifepristone can be used up to twenty-four weeks of pregnancy. For pregnancies under ten weeks, these medications can be taken at the same time. Misoprostol is places as high as possible in the vagina. The contractions cause heavy bleeding and cramping and take anywhere from three hours to five days to pass the pregnancy. For pregnancies after ten weeks, two appointments are needed to pass the pregnancy and a check-up appointment. At the first appointment, mifepristone is taken orally, causing the uterus more sensitive to misoprostol. At the second appointment, misoprostol will be administered ever few hours until the fetus has passed. While the mother is awake during the entire process, she will be given painkillers, gas, and air as needed. It takes an average of six hours for labor and delivery, however, sometimes it may take up to twenty-four hours. If the placenta does not pass in this procedure, it must be surgically removed. If the mother is twenty-two weeks pregnant or more, the fetus must be injected to stop the heartbeat before the procedure can take place. One type of surgical abortion is called aspiration, which occurs by widening the cervix and using gentle suction to remove the fetus. This can be done up to fourteen weeks. At fifteen weeks, dilation