This is a surgical procedure aimed at terminating a pregnancy. This type of abortion is also known as suction or vacuum aspiration, and it’s generally considered to be safer than taking the medical abortion pill. The actual surgery starts with your doctor inserting a thin tube through the cervix. The common types of surgical abortions include the vacuum aspiration, dilation and curettage .
Since surgical abortion is not an all-natural process, there are often side effects and situations that can occur as a result of the surgery. An abortion can be the right decision for many reasons. We’re going to discuss what you may experience after a surgical abortion in this article.
Reasons To Opt For Surgical Abortion
We have heard several stories of women choosing surgical abortion, but why? We have researched reasons that lead to surgical abortion. On this page, you will find the list of the top reasons that cause women to choose surgical abortion.
- The Unintended Pregnancy
- Financial Hardship
- Being exposed to some physical danger during pregnancy
- Physical Health Complications or Risk to Maternal Health
- A family history of some inherited abnormalities in children
- Problems with partner’s attitude to the pregnancy
- Fear of giving birth naturally
Things To Follow Up With Your Health Care Provider After The Procedure
There are several things to follow up on with your health care provider after a surgical abortion procedure. A check-up three to four weeks after the clinic surgical abortion can help assure that all is well. So you’ve opted to have an abortion after all, and everything went smoothly.
Chances are, you saw your health care provider at least twice in the span of a few days once for the procedure itself, and once for a follow-up. And now you’re home, maybe wondering if there are things you need to be doing right now to make sure you come out of this process in good health.
1. Rest For Few Days
If you are subject to surgical abortion, post-operative rest is vital. But not only the healing process itself is vital, but also the whole recovery period is critical. You should make sure that you have rested enough before getting back to your daily activities.
2. Take Pain Killers To Reduce Pain and Discomfort
Sometimes you will feel some mild pain after the surgical abortion. It is vital to strictly follow the pain medications as advised by your health care provider. This will help ease pain and make you comfortable.
3. Avoid Lifting Heavy Objects
Recovering from surgical abortion? Avoid lifting heavy objects. The best after-surgical abortion care is knowing how to protect yourself during recovery, including not lifting heavy objects. That said, many considerations can complicate after-surgical abortion recovery, especially if you grow fatigued too early or too easily.
4. Report Any Fever And Blood Loss To Doctor Immediately
You should be monitored for signs and symptoms of infection for at least 24 hours; any fever; unusual bleeding; or signs of shock e.g., pale or grayish coloring, weakness, sweating or shallow breathing. If you notice the need to take the medication at times other than once daily e.g., more than twice a day, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, who may want to check your progress or change the dosing schedule.
5. Get A Check Up To Make Sure Things is Okay
You should schedule a post-abortion checkup and follow-up with your doctor or clinic as soon as you feel able. In most cases, follow-ups are scheduled within the first two weeks after the abortion procedure. You should have these visits sooner if any risks or complications arise.
6. Consider Birth Control
There is a high chance of getting pregnant again. You need to seek help on the best type of soft birth control options that you can follow. This is important because it will help you avoid future unwanted pregnancies and avoid surgical abortion.
7. Keep A Journal Of The Bleeding And Signs of Infection
If you have a surgical abortion, you must keep a journal of the bleeding and signs of infection. This is one of the best records to have if you have any complications from an abortion or if questioned at a later date.
What Are The Side Effects Post Abortion?
Many women wonder what they can expect to happen to their bodies after they get an abortion. Sometimes, they do not want to go through with the procedure and want to know what they can do instead to prevent getting pregnant or miscarrying so it is important to know these side effects.
1. Post Abortion Syndrome
The post-abortion syndrome also referred to as post-abortion trauma), is a cluster of symptoms and emotional reactions that may develop in women after an induced abortion. It is a combination of psychiatric, emotional, and physical disorders that commonly occur sometimes following an induced abortion.
2. Depression
In most cases depression is common during and after surgical abortion. From women who abort, to women who decide to keep their baby, to women who carry their pregnancy through to term and give birth—everyone is affected by the abortion decision. Many times, when a woman has an abortion, she feels like it’s no big deal. Okay, I did it, now let’s move on and forget about it. But we can’t do that. We must face the emotional side of abortion and talk frankly about the deep emotional issues that develop in our lives after an abortion.
3. Anxiety
Anxiety after abortion is a serious side effect of the abortion procedure. Although it is not uncommon, most women think: “This will pass and my life will get back to normal” and write off their anxiety as normal and expected. But women often discover that the anxiety stays long after the abortion and their lives remain anything but normal.
4. Complications From the Procedure
There is a range of abortion procedures that can be done to terminate a pregnancy. Each procedure has specific benefits and risks. The side effects from abortions include medical complications from the procedure, infections, bleeding, chronic pain, as well as emotional complications such as guilt or grief following abortion. Ectopic pregnancy is another common complication from procedures.
5. Psychological Complications From The Procedure
Abortion has long-term psychological side effects. It’s one of the most important facts you need to know when facing any kind of abortion decision. The abortion proponents claim that it is no different than removing a tumor. But there is no doubt that the procedure haunts the individuals for years after.
These complications can be dealt with if you seek proper help from expert individuals who are experienced in providing after-abortion support. Realize that if you get a surgical abortion from an expert and qualified service provider, then the chances of surgery complications are minimal. The emotional part of it is what most people struggle with. It is recommended that you seek emotional help from a qualified physiatrist.
How Long Does Bleeding Last After An Abortion?
Bleeding is one of the first signs that a woman has had a surgical abortion. When a woman is on her period, she will bleed each month as the uterus sheds its lining and blood flow through the cervix to leave the body. Bleeding after an abortion is very similar except it isn’t due to lining coming out of the uterus.
Bleeding after an abortion is quite common. It can be heavy or light bleeding. It depends upon the type of abortion performed, the stage of pregnancy, previous medical history, or other factors. The average time bleeding lasts after an abortion is about 2-4 weeks
When Should You Seek Help For Post-surgical Complications?
Post-surgical abortion complications are very rare. Very few women experience side effects following an abortion, but occasionally it does happen. The best thing you can do is seek help immediately if something does go wrong.
In general, better to get help fast for any surgical complications. In particular, the longer it takes to get help, the higher the chance that you could end up dealing with a serious post-surgery complication rather than something minor.
Now that you have been informed of common symptoms and what is likely to occur after a surgical abortion, it is time to conclude this post. In general, after a surgical abortion is performed, a woman may experience some or all of the symptoms listed in this post. These symptoms, although normal after a surgical abortion, can make you feel anxious and uncertain about your recovery process.
It is not uncommon to compare yourself to others’ recovery timelines, especially when hearing stories from friends and family members. However, every woman recovers differently from surgical abortion, and with that being said, no recovery timeline can be set in stone for everyone who undergoes one.
