Is it possible to have an abortion at 12 weeks?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Someone is waiting for the cherished two stripes with hope, while for others this event is a real punishment. Of course, situations in life are different, and we do not undertake to judge anyone. Women who decide to keep their baby, and those who go for an abortion, have made their choice. Today we would like to discuss the topic of abortion from a medical point of view. Is it possible to have an abortion at 12 weeks, what are the terms for performing this procedure and the possible consequences. All this and much more - in our today's article.

Action algorithm

First of all, you need to think carefully. It is difficult to predict all the consequences of an abortion, and they can be very serious. Forget about grandmother's methods, no amateur performance in this matter is unacceptable. Abortion at 12 weeks is quite possible, you just need to find a competent specialist.

First of all, the doctor must determine the gestational age, according to laboratory tests and ultrasound results. Depending on this, the doctor will suggest a possible way to perform the operation. Abortion at 12 weeks is late, but according to certain indications, doctors can perform this procedure foralmost the entire first trimester.

How much time do you have to think

If you do not want complications, then no more than three months. Moreover, it should be borne in mind that a woman often finds out about her pregnancy not on the first day, but for a period of 4 to 6 weeks, this time is significantly reduced. Up to 12 weeks, an abortion is done at the request of the woman herself, and after - only according to the testimony. Below we will consider exactly how the circumstances must develop in order for the doctor to give his consent.

Social testimony

Cases of pregnancy of underage girls are considered separately. In this case, an abortion can be done after 12 weeks, but the consent of the parents or guardians is required. But this is not the only case when doctors can give up terms. After 12 weeks, abortion is done if there is a court decision to deprive parental rights. In this case, doctors agree to terminate the child's life immediately so that he is not born into a dysfunctional family.

The socio-psychological aspect is no exception. If the pregnancy was the result of rape and the expectant mother can confirm this, then doctors will make allowances for psychological trauma. However, in this case, it is not recommended to hold out until the end of the third month. The indication for abortion at week 12 or later is the death of the husband during pregnancy.

Medical indications

The decision to terminate a pregnancy can also be made by a doctor. Abortion for a period of 12 weeks refers to late surgical interventions,so quite often a gynecologist suggests making such a choice, noting the high risks of developing pathology in the fetus.

Medical indicators primarily include chronic diseases. At the same time, the doctor makes an informed decision, taking into account the condition of the expectant mother and excluding medical contraindications for the operation.

What maternal illnesses can lead to referral for medical abortion at 12 weeks? We will list them very briefly, as each individual case should be evaluated by the attending physician, do not try to diagnose yourself.

• Acute and subacute diseases of the reproductive system.
• Inflammatory processes.
• Various infections.

Examination before surgery

To terminate the pregnancy at this time, a full examination is carried out. The patient undergoes an ultrasound, donates blood and urine. An examination by a therapist is necessary, and, according to indications, by other specialists. Do not neglect the need for examination, this is the guarantee of your safety.

If there is no other option

The sooner you decide, the easier the operation will be. Ideally, an abortion is performed at 5-7 weeks. The fetus is still small, and the doctor can easily remove it from the uterine cavity. The more you tighten, the bigger the baby becomes. Abortion at week 12 is the removal of a body 6-7 cm long from the uterine cavity. Starting from this time, the fetus will grow even faster, which means that the operation will be more difficult. And not every doctor will take it up.

Pregnancy is interrupted by a doctor, an obstetrician-gynecologist, who has the appropriate education and practice. The operation itself is not complicated, but the doctors act almost blindly, which increases the risk for the woman. Today, it is performed under general anesthesia, but in free clinics in the periphery it is often done without anesthesia. Below we will look at what methods doctors use.

Medicated abortion

It is believed that this is the safest way for a woman to get rid of an unwanted child. However, an abortion at 12 weeks is almost never done in this way. Despite the fact that the instructions for drugs for medical abortion indicate that they can be used before the end of the first trimester, doctors have a slightly different opinion. The fetus at this time is already large and may not spontaneously leave the uterus. Therefore, if you want to do without surgery, it is better to consult a doctor in advance.

Mini abortion

Another option that is preferable, as it is gentle on the female body. It is carried out using a vacuum installation. However, it will no longer be possible to have an abortion at the 12th week in this way. Most often, a mini-abortion is performed for up to 5 weeks, but not all doctors undertake to perform the operation at this time, since the fetus is still very small and there is a risk that some tissue will remain in the uterine cavity and cause infection.

This operation is carried out by vacuum suction under ultrasound control. It is carried out in 5-7 minutes under local anesthesia. Atthis is characterized by the absence of pain and rapid healing. However, if the period is above 5 weeks, then doctors from the whole variety of methods will be able to offer only surgical abortion.

Features of this method

A woman should have a good idea of what she is going to before she falls into the hands of a surgeon. If the term is 12 weeks, the abortion will be done only by the surgical method. This operation can only be performed in a specialized medical facility. Medical, surgical abortion is the curettage of the walls of the uterus and the removal of the fetal egg.

As already mentioned, the operation is carried out almost blindly. The doctor expands the cervical canal with metal instruments, after which he removes the fetal egg and the remnants of the endometrium with special forceps by scraping the uterus. Today, the procedure is most often performed using anesthesia or general anesthesia. A few hours after the operation, the woman is under the supervision of a doctor, after which she is discharged home.

Blank surgery

As you can see, a lot depends on the state of the mother's body and the timing of pregnancy. Doctors have quite a few ways to perform an abortion. Week 12, one might say, is the last period when the pregnancy can be terminated at the request of the woman herself. At a later date, doctors will consider each case individually and make a decision. In exceptional cases, abortions are performed by small caesarean section or artificially induce labor.

Features of abortion at different stages of pregnancy

It is impossible to unequivocally answer the question of whether it is possible to have an abortion at 12 weeks. First of all, because each woman's body is individual. The doctor must conduct a complete examination and make an informed decision. Russian legislation sets the maximum time period when a woman can make an independent decision to terminate a pregnancy. It's 12 weeks since your last period.

It should be noted that this period is not optimal for abortion. This is rather the extreme limit, when such an operation is not too dangerous for the female body. When it comes to when is the safest time to have an abortion, the answer is always the same: the sooner the better.

In this case, early termination of pregnancy is the most benign. Hormonal restructuring is still rather weakly expressed. The risk of complications in this case is minimal. From the 5th to the 8th week, you can still perform the procedure with medication or using a vacuum unit. In this case, internal tissues are not damaged, and therefore the risk of infection is reduced.

Surgical abortion, which is performed by scraping the uterine cavity, is a traumatic, painful procedure.

Consequences of abortion

We haven't talked about the dangers of having an abortion yet. Is it possible to perform this operation on the 12th week, you will discuss with your doctor, but you mustwarned of the consequences. Doctors say that such an intervention can harm both early and late pregnancy. But practice suggests that the earlier such a decision is made, the more troubles and complications can be avoided.

No doctor wants to harm his patient, but it is very difficult to predict the body's reaction to such an intervention. Termination of pregnancy entails physiological and hormonal changes, which are reflected in a variety of systemic disorders.

The consequences can show up almost immediately. These are bleeding and complications after anesthesia, various mechanical damage. With incomplete removal of the fetus from the uterine cavity, an inflammatory process may begin. However, you should not relax even if you feel good in the first days after the abortion. Late effects are often manifested in the form of inflammation of the tissues of the uterus, placental polyps and peritonitis.

Long-term consequences are rarely associated with a previous operation, but the fact remains. Menstrual disorders and chronic diseases of the genitourinary system, obstetric pathologies of varying severity, premature birth during the next pregnancy, uterine fibroids and infertility - this is not a complete list of all pathologies that may appear after a while after an abortion.

Choose your doctor carefully

If you decide on such an intervention, then you need to find a good clinic where certified doctors work. The best thingask the district gynecologist where to have an abortion at 12 weeks. Specialists know the level of performance of such operations in the clinics of the city, as they regularly face the consequences. Be sure to undergo a complete examination before and after the operation. So the doctor will be able to assess the condition of your body, notice deviations in time and prescribe corrective treatment.

Instead of a conclusion

Thus, we can conclude that it is possible to terminate a pregnancy at the 12th week. It is this period that is the last when a woman herself decides the fate of her baby. After that, an abortion can only be performed for medical or social reasons. However, the sooner you decide, the easier this procedure will be and the more complications you can avoid.