MTP Medication And Its Effects On Women’s Health

While many women are lucky to conceive without going through any treatment to conceive, some women get pregnant, but unfortunately, they don’t or in some cases, can’t go ahead with it. The reasons are diverse and vary across the world. Terminating a pregnancy is a tough decision for the woman and her family. But they must do it in certain situations, and this is where MTP helps. Here are common reasons that force women to undergo an abortion:

1. Health conditions where pregnancy can endanger the mother’s life.
2. Foetal anomalies prevent the baby from being born healthy.
3. Failed contraception methods that result in an unwanted pregnancy.
4. Medical conditions of the mother such as cancer.
5. Medical conditions of the growing foetus such as Down’s syndrome, and trisomy. 
6. Financial difficulties.
7. Mothers not being ready for childbirth and bringing up children.
8. Issues with husband/partner after getting pregnant.
9. Pregnancies that result from rape.

Women who want to terminate their pregnancies can choose between medical or surgical abortions. The type of abortion the mother undergoes will depend on how far she is into her pregnancy. The other factors that decide the type of abortion selected are the health and comfort of the patient. 

Medical Abortion

Doctors advise medical abortion in pregnancies that are less than ten weeks old. In this procedure, the patient is given a combination of two oral medicines, Mifepristone and Misoprostol. Doctors advise the patient how these must be taken and what precautions should be taken. Though patients may be allowed to take the medication at home, they must consult a doctor and get the necessary tests like blood test, urine test and ultrasound scan done beforehand. 

All medicines come with mild or serious side effects. In the same way, taking abortion pills can also have some adverse effects. Women who choose this method of abortion must know what they can expect after the procedure. 

Short-Term Side Effects

1. Bleeding and cramping start to occur between one to four hours after taking the second drug. 
2. Heavy bleeding continues for several hours. 
3. Bleeding is part of the embryo ejection process out of the womb. It is more severe than what women experience during menstruation (Patients must keep sanitary pads ready to soak up the blood). 
4. Intense cramping. 
5. Severe abdominal and back pain. 
6. Fever lasts for a day after the procedure.

Other Short-term Side Effects Of Medical Abortion

1. Diarrhoea
2. Abdominal pain not related to cramping
3. Dizziness
4. Headaches
5. Mild to high fever
6. Hot flashes
7. Chills

Short-term side effects that need immediate Medical Attention

1. Women may suffer from allergic reactions due to the medicines used for the abortion. 
2. Infection is a possibility. An unpleasant odour from the vagina and fever lasting for more than 24 hours indicate the presence of the same. 
3. Passing clots exceeding the size of lemon for two or more hours. 
4. Excessive bleeding requires the use of two or more pads in an hour. 
5. Continuous pain after normal bleeding has stopped.

Long-Term Side Effects

1. Some women may suffer from the below side effects that last for a long. 
2. Low levels of potassium in the blood
3. High blood pressure
4. Joint and head pain
5. Fluid retention
6. Overgrowth of the uterine lining
7. Decreased appetite
8. Low energy
9. Vomiting
10. General weakness
11. Low blood sugar
12. Difficulty in sleeping
13. Excessive thirst
14. Chest pain not related to heart problems

1. Incomplete abortion needs a surgical procedure to remove parts of the foetus that are not expelled.
2. Pregnancy remains life if the procedure is not successful.
3. Heavy and prolonged bleeding.

Women who have undergone a medical abortion do get affected both mentally and socially. Religious beliefs, pressure from partner and family, and social stigma can cause distress to the woman. Some of the common emotions felt by the patient after undergoing an abortion procedure are:

1. Guilt
2. Anger
3. Shame
4. Regret
5. Loneliness
6. Depression

Recovery from a medical abortion starts with taking enough rest for a couple of weeks. A normal routine can resume after a couple of days. However, patients should avoid doing any hard physical work for about two weeks. A visit to the doctor is usually scheduled after two weeks. The doctor conducts examinations and tests to confirm that the procedure was successful. 

1. Doctors perform a pelvic exam to ensure there is no pregnancy.
2. They may check for vaginal infection.
3. Patients need to inform the doctors about the severity of the bleeding and when it stopped. 
4. Doctors also enquire about the colour of the bleeding and whether there were any clots.
5. An ultrasound scan is performed to confirm there are no parts of the foetus in the uterus. 

Patients can make use of the visit to the doctor to talk about future contraception. Doctors advise patients to refrain from vaginal sex for about three weeks. The use of tampons is also not recommended during this period. Both these measures help to prevent infection in the vagina. Women can become pregnant again once the menstrual cycle restarts. It takes about four to six weeks for normal menstruation to resume after a medical abortion. 

Medical abortion doesn’t have serious side effects normally. Women who have undergone this procedure generally don’t suffer any long-term adverse effects on their health. However, they must consult an expert to check their readiness for a medical abortion. 

HexaHealth is the ideal platform to find the best doctors in your city. Their team of friendly medical professionals guide, consult and handhold patients right from the inquiry phase to recovery. Visit their website (www.hexahealth.com) to find hospitals that provide the best care and support you require during and after a medical abortion.