Termination of pregnancy in the first week

Unfortunately, there are situations when pregnancy is unplanned or there are acute contraindications to pregnancy and then the woman decides to have an abortion. What are the methods of terminating pregnancy in the first week? What are the indications and contraindications for this procedure? We will tell you all about this below.

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Medical indications for termination of pregnancy in the first week

• circulatory failure or severe disturbances in the functioning of the heart and blood vessels;
• leukemia and other severe diseases of the hematopoietic system;
• severe respiratory diseases or open tuberculosis;
• renal failure, dialysis, absence of one kidney;
• stomach ulcer or severe gastrointestinal diseases;
• severe forms of diabetes or severe thyroid dysfunction;
• presence of malignant tumors;
• severe ophthalmological disorders;
• HIV, syphilis;
• severe forms of epilepsy, other mental disorders (schizophrenia, dementia);
• recent major surgeries (including cesarean section) less than six months ago;
• the presence of diseases causing fetal malformations (rubella, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis);
• severe form of toxicosis (life-threatening for the mother);
• age under 16 years (relative contraindication).

Examinations required for termination of pregnancy in the first weeks

• cytological examination for the presence of infections;
• blood test for syphilis and HIV and blood type with Rh factor;
• gynecological examination to exclude acute and chronic inflammatory processes;
• ultrasound examination to determine the exact gestational age.

Termination of pregnancy in the first weeks can be performed by three methods, namely: vacuum aspiration, medication and instrumental methods. Each type of termination of pregnancy in the first weeks has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Vacuum aspiration or mini-abortion

The most gentle method of terminating pregnancy for a woman. It is performed by vacuum suction of the fertilized egg and its membranes through the cervix using a special thin tip. The procedure lasts no more than 10 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia. General anesthesia can be used at the patient’s request. After vacuum aspiration, it is advisable to remain under medical supervision for several hours. This method of terminating an unwanted pregnancy in the first weeks can be done up to 6 obstetric weeks, which is confirmed by an ultrasound examination. It is strictly recommended to perform vacuum aspiration in specialized clinics or outpatient clinics.

Advantages of termination of pregnancy in the first week by vacuum aspiration:

• no possibility of damage to the cervix and uterine cavity;
• speed of procedure;
• relative painlessness of the procedure;
• minimal risk of inflammation after the procedure.

Disadvantages of termination of pregnancy in the first week by vacuum aspiration:

• the probability of terminating a pregnancy in this way is 98%;
• the probability of incomplete release of the fertilized egg is 5%, which can lead to bad consequences;
• the probability of developing infertility is 5%.

Several days after the vacuum aspiration, it is recommended to have a repeat ultrasound to ensure that the termination of pregnancy has been completed.

Medical method of termination of pregnancy

Medical termination of pregnancy in the first week is performed by taking special drugs, namely mifepristone or mifegin, which suppress the production of the most important pregnancy hormone - progesterone. As a result, the fetus dies. Then the patient is offered to take prostaglandin drugs, which lead to spontaneous miscarriage. This method is allowed only in a few countries, namely: Great Britain, France, Sweden and China. In Ukraine, medical abortion is prohibited, as it is believed that it has a large number of complications. This type of termination of pregnancy should be carried out under strict supervision of a doctor.

The advantages of terminating pregnancy in the first week using medication:

• absence of trauma to the cervix and uterine cavity;
• simplicity of the procedure;
• the probability of subsequent pregnancy remains at the initial level.

Disadvantages of termination of pregnancy in the first week using medication:

• high risk of bleeding;
• the probability of incomplete release of the fertilized egg;
• relative painfulness of the procedure (mini birth);
• the possibility of hormonal imbalance.

A few days after the medical termination of pregnancy, it is recommended to have a repeat ultrasound to ensure that the procedure was performed correctly.

Instrumental method of termination of pregnancy

The most traumatic method of terminating pregnancy in the first weeks. It is used when the vacuum aspiration method is no longer possible, namely at 6-12 obstetric weeks. With this method of terminating pregnancy, the cervix is dilated using special instruments, then the walls of the uterus are completely scraped using a curette. The procedure is usually performed under short-term general anesthesia, but local anesthesia can be used. The instrumental method of terminating pregnancy is performed strictly in a hospital, after which the patient must spend another day under the supervision of doctors.

Advantages of termination of pregnancy in the first weeks using an instrumental method:

• almost 100% guarantee of complete termination of pregnancy;
• minimal probability of the presence of embryonic remnants in the uterine cavity.

Disadvantages of termination of pregnancy in the first weeks using the instrumental method:

• high probability of complications (bleeding, damage to the uterus, infection);
• the probability of infertility is 20%;
• painfulness of the procedure.

After a few days from the instrumental method of termination of pregnancy in the first week, it is recommended to do a repeat ultrasound to make sure that the procedure was performed correctly.

Medical contraindications to termination in the first week of pregnancy

• acute inflammatory processes of the female genital organs;
• Infectious diseases of the female reproductive system.