Medical abortion with mifepristone offers women an option of early termination of pregnancy without surgery. Medical abortion is performed only for pregnancies up to nine weeks.

How it works

First, the doctor gives you a dose of mifepristone in tablet form. Mifepristone causes the placenta to separate from the endometrium. It also softens the cervix and increases uterine contractions, which allows to expel the fetus.

Then the doctor gives you tablets of misoprostol, usually within 48 hours after mifepristone. Misoprostol causes uterine contractions and miscarriage. In some clinics you will be asked to stay for four hours after taking misoprostol, because if there are side effects, they usually occur during this time. Abortion may occur in the clinic or later at home. Some doctors allow patients to take misoprostol at home.

The first time you take the first means and the second means the doctor gives you along. About two weeks after that you need to come to re-appointment to make sure the pregnancy is interrupted, and there were no complications. When medical abortion was not successful, it will have to resort to surgery to complete the process because misoprostol causes birth defects.

During the procedure, you can also take painkillers.

How effective is it

Medical abortion can be carried out for up to nine weeks pregnant. With up to seven weeks of combination of mifepristone and misoprostol has an efficiency of about 92%. If a longer term efficacy of mifepristone and misoprostol is somewhat reduced.

Within four hours after administration of the second agent (misoprostol), many women begins bleeding and uterine contractions, and the pregnancy is terminated. In most cases pregnancy ends within 24 hours after taking misoprostol. If not, it is usually administered a second dose of misoprostol.

Side effects

This method of abortion causes symptoms similar to miscarriage (severe cramps and vaginal bleeding). Also, symptoms may include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Chills or hot flashes
• Tremors
• Fatigue

It was reported a few cases of death due to severe infection (sepsis) after medical abortion. Signs of infection include weakness, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain possible. Be sure to consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms after medical abortion.

Signs of complications

Immediately contact your doctor if you have a post-abortion experience any of these symptoms:

• Heavy bleeding. Medical and surgical abortion usually cause bleeding. Heavy bleeding means:
• Isolation of large clots lasting two hours or more.
• Soaking more than two large pads per hour, lasting for two hours.
• Heavy bleeding for twelve hours continuously.
• Signs of infection, such as headache or muscle pain, dizziness, general malaise. The infection may not cause heat.
• Severe abdominal pain that do not pass after taking painkillers, rest and applying a heating pad.
• Hot "hot flashes" or the temperature is above 38 ° C, does not fall within four hours.
• Vomiting lasting more than four hours.
• The sudden swelling of the abdomen, or heart palpitations.
• Vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor.
• Pain, swelling, redness in the genital area.

Contact your doctor if you have after an abortion experience the following symptoms:

• Bleeding for longer than two weeks.
• New symptoms that may be caused by the last procedure.
• The absence of menstruation for more than six weeks.
• Signs of depression. Hormonal changes after an interrupted pregnancy can cause depression Depression Requiring treatment.

Things to consider

The choice of method of abortion depends on your health status, gestational age, access to health services and personal preferences.

Mifepristone must not be used by women who:

• Possible ectopic pregnancy
• Undiagnosed formation in the ovaries
• Installed IUD
• Long-term use of corticosteroids
• The refusal of the adrenal glands
• Severe anemia
• Blood clotting disorders or taking anticoagulants
• Liver disease or kidney disease
• Heart disease or high blood pressure
• Respiratory diseases
• Allergy to mifepristone
• Hereditary skin diseases

During the reception of mifepristone and misoprostol for medical abortion Medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol: how it happens   Avoid alcohol and aspirin.

Medical abortion does not require surgery, but should be made during the first nine weeks of pregnancy. If medical abortion is unsuccessful, a surgical abortion should be performed.

After medical abortion

We can expect a variety of emotional reactions after an abortion. The hormones of pregnancy can cause depression after an abortion. If you have more than two weeks of continuing symptoms of depression, such as fatigue, changes in sleep and appetite, feelings of sadness, emptiness, anxiety, irritability, consult a doctor.

When you start having sex again, use contraceptives and condoms to prevent infection. Barrier methods of contraception (diaphragm, cap, condoms) will be effective immediately. IUD will become effective as soon as it is installed. If you start to use contraceptive pills Birth control pills - how effective are they? , Patches or injections immediately after the abortion, be sure to use extra protection while hormonal begin to act.

The next period may start at any time within 6 weeks after an abortion. If not, consult a doctor.

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