One low-risk and safe way to terminate a pregnancy is with a medical abortion. It works 99 percent of the time. After a medical abortion, two to five percent of women will need follow-up care to complete the process.
Key points:
- Give a woman medical abortion guidelines and counseling in a way that she can comprehend so that she can decide for herself whether or not to have an abortion and, if so, what procedure to use.
- Verify the state of pregnancy and ascertain the location and length of gestation.
- Check for any health issues that need to be managed or that might affect the decision to have an abortion.
- Give people a chance to talk about using contraception in the future.
- She will need to go to the clinic or hospital three times:
On the first visit (day 1): take Mifepristone 200 mg tablet orally while a health professional is present.
Day 2 of the second visit: take a misoprostol 400µg pill.
Day 15 will be the third visit: to confirm the completion of the abortion.
Guidelines for medical abortion
The updated WHO medical abortion guidelines offer suggestions for numerous basic primary care treatments that are:
- Up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
- With the women’s permission.
- Under specific conditions, with the consent of a licensed medical professional, created in good faith.
- Opinion on the two RMPs needed to end a pregnancy between weeks 12 and 20.
- Improve the quality of care provided to girls and women who want abortions.
- Include a wider range of medical specialists who share responsibilities.
- Ensure that medical abortion pills are available so that more women can have safe abortions.
- Please make sure accurate care information is available to those who need it.
- Fresh ideas to expand access to high-quality, person-centered services.
- When carried out in compliance with WHO medical abortion guidelines, abortion is a safe operation.
- Sadly, just half of all abortions take place in hazardous environments, and these procedures cause over 39,000 deaths globally. The vast majority of these deaths are more than 60% in Africa and 30% in Asia and occur among those living in the most impoverished conditions and lower-income countries.
Safe abortion guidelines
A single healthcare provider can handle the full medical abortion package. However, different healthcare professionals can also perform individual subtasks in various environments.
Furthermore, given the nature of medical abortion, women may do the operation outside of a medical facility (such as at home), with help available if needed.
Such self-assessment and self-management strategies can support a more woman-centered and effective use of health resources by empowering women and helping with emergency treatment.
Medication abortion, often known as medical abortion or the abortion pill, is an alternative to surgical abortion. This type of abortion can occur up to nine weeks into a pregnancy.
Mifepristone and misoprostol, two medications used in medical abortion to end an unwanted pregnancy, are included in the MTP Kit. First and foremost, always get advice from the doctor about how to get an MTP kit online and carry it out with a licensed clinic.
One low-risk and safe way to terminate a pregnancy is with a pharmaceutical abortion. It works 99 percent of the time. After a pharmaceutical abortion, two to five percent of women will need follow-up care to complete the process.
Do’s and don’ts after abortion pill
After a medical abortion, you must take as much time as necessary to care for yourself as medical abortion guidelines are also important after the abortion.
Do’s: You can do several actions to aid in your recovery
- Before taking the second set of tablets (misoprostol), or if you would like, as soon as cramps begin to build up, take pain medication. Our medical abortion aftercare page has comprehensive information on how to manage discomfort.
- Make sure to stay hydrated.
- For 48 hours after taking the second batch of tablets (misoprostol), think about using sanitary pads rather than tampons or menstrual cups, and if you do, please replace them frequently. While sanitary pads can make it easier to monitor your bleeding, you can use any type of sanitary wear both during and after the abortion. We advise wearing a proper pad, like the thick pregnancy ones, on days when your bleeding is intense.
- As soon as you feel safe doing so, feel free to exercise, take a bath, and go swimming.
- When you are ready, feel free to engage in sexual activity. Please keep in mind that fertility quickly returns following an abortion, so you might want to start using some form of birth control. Your NHS-funded abortion care at MSI Reproductive Choices includes contraception counseling, if you are seeking a type of contraception that works for you, you can schedule an appointment within three months of receiving your abortion therapy.
- Three weeks after taking the misoprostol tablets, do take the pregnancy test that came with your medical abortion package. Since our pregnancy test differs from store-bought tests, please utilize the one we have provided. Up to two months following an abortion, the pregnancy hormone may still be detectable. You must use the unique pregnancy test we offer because a store-bought one might stay positive for up to two months even if you are no longer pregnant.
Don’ts: You must not do these actions to aid in your recovery
- Do not consume alcohol unless you are ready.
- As this can disturb the usual bacteria and raise the risk of infection, avoid using a douche or any soap inside the vagina. Natural discharge from your vagina will clean it on its own.
Medical abortion care guide
Care for abortions needs to be quick, safe, reasonably priced, non-discriminatory, and courteous. This abortion care guideline is predicated on the provision of high-quality abortion care. Effective, efficient, accessible, acceptable/patient-centered, equitable, and safe care is referred to as quality care.
Information sharing, abortion management (including induced abortion and pregnancy loss care), and post-abortion care are all included in comprehensive abortion care. This guideline contains guidelines for various abortion indications as well as for the “who,” “what,” “where,” and “how” phases of the continuum of care.
An enabling atmosphere supports high-quality abortion treatment. The availability and accessibility of information, a supporting, universally accessible, reasonably priced, and efficiently operating health system, and respect for human rights, including a supportive legal and legislative framework, are the three pillars of an enabling environment.
What is Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP)?
The operation to terminate a pregnancy so that no child is born is commonly referred to as an abortion. Another name for it is “termination of pregnancy.” Medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) is the term used to describe abortion performed using specific medications.
Two pills of misoprostol and mifepristone are the most often utilized drugs for this reason. While misoprostol causes cramps and bleeding to empty the contents of the uterus, mifepristone inhibits the hormone progesterone, which is necessary for conception.
If the pregnancy has progressed to the first trimester, a gynecologist would typically advise this. It is advised to terminate a pregnancy medically or surgically (Dilation and Curettage, or D&C) after the first trimester.
What are the reasons for doing MTP?
MTP can be performed for several purposes, like as
- Unwanted pregnancy
- Pregnancy that could endanger the mother’s life or pregnancy at high risk
- Existence of genetic or fetal defects
- Finishing a miscarriage
Everybody experiences termination differently. An abortion is a significant choice that may have an impact on the mother’s physical and emotional well-being. Before making the important decision, speak with your doctor and dependable family members or friends.
FAQs on Essential Medical Abortion Guidelines for Safe Procedures
What are the rules for medical termination?
Pregnancy termination in children under the age of eighteen or in lunatics (as defined by Section 3 of the Indian Lunacy Act, 1912) is only permitted with the guardian’s written authorization. 2. Termination of pregnancy in adult women over 18 years of age is permissible with their valid consent.
What are the conditions for medical abortion?
To make sure there are no difficulties, a pelvic examination and clinical history should be performed. If the ejection of products of conception is not confirmed by history and inspection, ultrasonography is necessary. Curettage might be necessary if her bleeding is still erratic.
When can pregnancies be terminated?
Pregnancies will be terminated under the following conditions:
- Two RMPs are needed for pregnancy termination between weeks 12 and 20.
- 20 weeks of gestation.
- With the women’s approval.
- With the consent of a licensed medical professional, formed in good faith, in specific situations.
What is the safe period for medical termination of pregnancy?
The safest periods to have a medical abortion are during the first nine weeks of pregnancy. Medical termination can be carried out using medication or surgery. As long as the woman consents, a 20-week medical termination is acceptable.
