Abortions may be defined as termination of pregnancy
before gestation of 20 weeks or weight up to 500 gm. Incidence of abortion is estimated to
be about 260-450 abortions per 1000 live births. Medical
Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) is legalized Abortion
Abortions are of considerable importance as in India they
still form the leading cause of maternal deaths.
TYPES OF ABORTIONS
Abortions may be broadly classified into spontaneous or
induced. The spontaneous abortions may be of different types - threatened; inevitable;
incomplete; habitual and missed. The induced abortions are legal and illegal (mostly
septic).
AFTER CARE
A menstrual like flow of blood is normal after abortion. It may stop completely for a
few days, and then resume. A woman should report to her doctor any bleeding heavier than
the heaviest menstrual flow she's experienced, and any passage of large clots.
She should also report severe cramps that begin more than a day after the abortion.
Other danger signs: fever; a greenish; foul-smelling vaginal discharge; and burning or
frequent urination. She should have a follow-up examination about two weeks after the
abortion.
A woman can safely resume intercourse about 48 hours after the cessation of all
bleeding. This usually occurs a 5-7 days after the abortion.
Medical
Termination of Pregnancy
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