INDUCED ABORTION

It is the deliberate removal of the fetus to terminate the pregnancy. While the moral debate still continues, legal problems have been resolved by GOI's 1973 decision legalizing abortion to save life of the mother. Earlier women wishing to terminate a pregnancy had the choice of either bearing an unwanted child or obtaining an illegal abortion with considerable risk to health and life. The MTP act changed all that.

Abortion may in some cases have an adverse effect on future childbearing but abortions done with current medical techniques find no connection between abortion and any later pregnancy problems.

You must consider abortions only when contraception fails.
If you suspect that you are pregnant, get medical confirmation before arranging an abortion. A menstrual period may be delayed for many reasons other than pregnancy.

EARLY ABORTIONS

Up to 12 weeks, Dilation and curettage (usually referred to as D & C) is the most common abortion procedure in India. For D & C the cervix is dilated and the uterus is scraped with a curette. The procedure might involve an overnight stay in a hospital. More commonly it takes half a day at an abortion clinic. Prices vary depending on the type of facility used.

LATE ABORTIONS

Beyond the 12^th week risks to the woman increase. Saline was used most commonly for most abortions after 16 weeks.

Hormone like chemicals called Prostaglandins are now available for inducing labor between the 12^th and 24^th weeks. Prostaglandins technique involves an injection into the amniotic sac, but of a much smaller amount of fluid. Most women experience some degree of nausea and vomiting.

Major complications of the saline and prostaglandins methods include infection and retained placental tissue, often with bleeding and fever. Infections can usually be treated with antibiotics; retained placenta usually requires a D&C.

| Spontaneous Abortions | Induced Abortion |