Abortions may be defined as termination of pregnancy before gestation of 20 weeks or weight up to 500 gm. Incidence of abortion is estimated to be about 260-450 abortions per 1000 live births. Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) is legalized Abortion Abortions are of considerable importance as in India they still form the leading cause of maternal deaths. TYPES OF ABORTIONS Abortions may be broadly classified into spontaneous or induced. The spontaneous abortions may be of different types - threatened; inevitable; incomplete; habitual and missed. The induced abortions are legal and illegal (mostly septic). AFTER CARE A menstrual like flow of blood is normal after abortion. It may stop completely for a few days, and then resume. A woman should report to her doctor any bleeding heavier than the heaviest menstrual flow she's experienced, and any passage of large clots. She should also report severe cramps that begin more than a day after the abortion. Other danger signs: fever; a greenish; foul-smelling vaginal discharge; and burning or frequent urination. She should have a follow-up examination about two weeks after the abortion. A woman can safely resume intercourse about 48 hours after the cessation of all bleeding. This usually occurs a 5-7 days after the abortion. |
