Hysterosuction: What is this abortion-related surgery and how it differs from curettage
Hysterosuction is a surgical procedure that falls within the scope of abortion, whether it is a spontaneous abortion or IVG (voluntary termination of pregnancy). More delicate than curettage, hysterosuction consists in removing the embryo and endometrium from the uterus by means of a special cannula. In Italy hysterosuction is the most used intervention for voluntary termination of pregnancy, followed by curettage. Before looking closely at what it consists of and what its consequences are, here is a video on "Ivg in Italy:
What is hysterosuction?
Hysterosuction, as we have said, is a very specific operation to be carried out in the operating room, which consists in "aspirating the contents of the uterus, ie the embryo and endometrium deriving from" conception, following an abortion.
The contents of the uterus are aspirated after having dilated the cervix by administering drugs to the woman. The actual hysterosuction is carried out by means of a special cannula that is able to pass through the neck of the uterus, the so-called "Karman cannula", connected directly to an aspirator.
The hysterosuction operation can be performed both under local anesthesia and under general anesthesia and lasts only a few minutes. It is a procedure that can only be performed in the first trimester of pregnancy, and in particular between the fourth and sixth week of gestation. .
If the abortion through voluntary interruption of pregnancy takes place instead at the eighth week of gestation (no later than) it will be necessary to combine hysterosuction with the scraping, to ensure a total removal of the material remaining attached to the internal walls of the uterus.
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How does hysterosuction work in a surgical abortion?
Hysterosuction can follow a spontaneous abortion or be part of the procedure of a "voluntary termination of pregnancy, as it is" regulated by Italian law (it will obviously be necessary to find a doctor who is not a conscientious objector).
The surgical abortion can be done in the operating room by a doctor who specializes in gynecology and obstetrics through local anesthesia or through general anesthesia. mouth of the uterus. The doctor, when the anesthesia has taken effect, will be able to proceed with the dilation of the cervix, so as to be able to insert the cannula inside the uterus.
At this point, the cannula will be able to aspirate the endometrium and embryo and the specialist will check by means of ultrasound that the uterus has been completely emptied. The hysterosuction operation does not last more than a few minutes and is not painful in itself, but could lead to cramps in the abdomen immediately after surgery, not different from those of the menstrual cycle, due to contractions of the uterus itself.
If the abortion is performed under general anesthesia, however, the woman will be injected with an anesthetic that will allow her to sleep for the entire duration of the procedure. When he wakes up, it will all be over. During sleep, the cannula will be introduced into the neck of the uterus by widening the mouth of the uterus, prompted by the specialist in obstetrics and gynecology. Again, the cannula will aspirate all the contents, without causing any pain.
What are the risks and consequences?
If the hysterosuction is done competently, there should be no particular pain or problems. However, the most frequent complications are cervical damage, bleeding, infection of the uterus or incomplete removal of the pregnancy tissue.
A few days after the operation, on the other hand, other symptoms may occur such as blood loss of different degrees, breast pain, abdominal cramps and fever. A check-up visit to the gynecologist after a couple of weeks is recommended to be sure that it is everything went well. If, on the other hand, the fever is high and the pains are intense or the bleeding is excessive, it is advisable to call your doctor immediately.
After a hysterosuction, it will be necessary to wait at least a month and a half before reviewing the menstrual cycle: the beta hCG hormone (ie the pregnancy hormone) must have time to lower its values for menstruation to return. however, it can vary from woman to woman.
Finally, the psychological consequences of a "hysterosuction and, in general, of an abortion (whether it is a spontaneous abortion or voluntary interruption of pregnancy) should not be underestimated: for no woman this is an easy moment or a light and your physical and mental health could be severely tested, leading to anxiety, panic attacks, depression. If the abortion has undermined your physical and mental health and you can't get over this, don't underestimate the problem and talk to a psychologist who can certainly help you get better.
Hysterosuction or curettage?
Often there is a tendency to confuse hysterosuction and curettage: although these two interventions are both linked to abortion, they are not equivalent to each other and, indeed, in some cases it may be necessary to undergo both.
The scraping does not require an "aspiration, but a real" scrape "through a scalpel the fragments of the endometrium inside the uterus. This operation, performed in the operating room, lasts about a quarter of an hour and has no particular contraindications or aftermath.
Hysterosuction, on the other hand (as we have seen), consists not in scraping, but in aspirating the pregnancy tissue, thus resulting more delicate and faster. However, hysterosuction can only be done within the eighth week of pregnancy. If the abortion occurs later, it will need to be combined with the curettage, so that even the smallest fragments of the endometrium can be removed from the uterus.
In the case of a spontaneous abortion, therefore, it will be more likely to have to proceed with a curettage than with a "hysterosuction, which is instead preferred by most women who undergo a" voluntary termination of pregnancy.
What consequences does it have on a new, possible pregnancy?
Provided that no serious complications occurred during the surgery, hysterosuction will have no impact on a woman's future chance of having a new pregnancy. If everything has gone well, there will be no damage of any kind to the uterus and to the reproductive system in general and it will be possible to go back to trying a new conception.
For more information on the subject, you can consult this pdf of the ULSS7 Veneto Region.
