Therapeutic abortion: when is it done, and how does it happen?
Therapeutic abortion is the termination of pregnancy possible beyond the first three months of pregnancy, ie beyond the terms allowed by the Italian law on abortion. The famous law 194 of 1978 establishes that voluntary abortion is possible within the first 90 years days of gestation. In exceptional cases, however, abortion is also allowed up to the 25th week. When is therapeutic abortion used, and how does it happen?
Spontaneous abortion: what are the symptoms and causes? The video that explains everything
In which cases do we speak of spontaneous abortion? What exactly happens during a miscarriage, and what can be the causes? In this video, our expert tells us about abortion, the symptoms and what to do if it happens. Unlike therapeutic abortion, spontaneous abortion is not planned by the doctor, and usually happens to a high percentage of women, especially if they are in their first pregnancy. Watch the video and find out everything there is to know!
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When is therapeutic abortion used?
Therapeutic abortion becomes necessary, and is prescribed by the doctor, in cases where pregnancy, or any malformations of the fetus, endanger the life and physical and mental health of the woman. If the pregnancy endangers the life or the normal health of the woman, the gynecologist prescribes a surgical abortion. As we know, pharmacological abortion with abortion pill is possible only within two months of pregnancy. If the gestation has gone beyond, and an interruption is necessary, intervention is resorted to according to different methods. Therapeutic abortion is not necessarily a voluntary abortion, the pregnant woman must often accept it reluctantly because her own health is in danger.
The most frequent cases requiring therapeutic abortion
The cases in which therapeutic abortion is used are different, and the main causes that lead to this solution are:
- bleeding due to placental abruption
- premature rupture of the amniotic sac, with generalized infection
- malformations of the fetus that endanger the life and health of the woman, found in prenatal analyzes such as villocentesis or amniocentesis
- malformations or pregnancy problems highlighted by ultrasound
In these and other cases, the woman's health is always privileged. Therapeutic abortion is not used if the fetus is sick, but only if the problems of the fetus endanger the life of the mother.
How does therapeutic abortion take place?
Therapeutic abortion is basically a surgical abortion, which uses various modalities, according to the weeks of pregnancy and the other assessments of the doctor. Usually, emptying of the uterus with general anesthesia is used by 15 or 16 weeks of pregnancy. Emptying of the uterus occurs by curettage or aspiration (hysterosuction). After 16 weeks of pregnancy, the woman is given birth, inducing abortive labor. Contractions are caused with the use of medicines, and the procedure is almost in all respects like childbirth. Unfortunately, therapeutic abortion can be as painful as a natural birth. Pharmacological solutions can be used to decrease pain, such as epidural anesthesia, but in that case the presence of an anesthetist is required. To reduce the pain of having to face this type of experience, it is good to choose a hospital that guarantees an anesthesiologist present, and therefore a pain therapy during childbirth.
