17 TYPES OF ABORTION, CHARACTERISTICS AND CONSEQUENCES - GEOGRAFÍA - 2025

There are different types of abortion depending on what is considered: it can be according to the week of gestation of the fetus (early or late), according to the origin of the procedure (spontaneous or induced), or taking into account the method through which the termination of pregnancy (pharmacological or surgical).

There is talk of abortion when the pregnancy is interrupted - either intentionally or by natural causes - at a time when the fetus is not yet viable outside the womb; that is, when it would not yet be able to survive on its own but needs more time to finish developing inside the womb.

10 week embryo. The 44-year-old mother of 6 children was diagnosed with carcinoma, and had to undergo a uterus removal to ensure her health. drsuparna flickr.com/photos/

Today abortion is no longer illegal in many countries (around 60), either because it is considered a free decision of the mother or because it has to happen under certain conditions to be allowed. In other countries it is completely illegal, or allowed only when it poses a significant risk to the mother's health.

Types of abortion and characteristics

-Spontaneous abortion

It is the natural interruption of gestation before the 20th week of pregnancy, which occurs involuntarily and definitively ends in the loss of the embryo or fetus. It can be early or late.

characteristics

Depending on what week of gestation they occur and how the woman's body reacts, spontaneous abortions may or may not be accompanied by symptoms.

When it occurs during the first 6 weeks, it commonly goes unnoticed by women. In other cases, it can cause mild or severe pain in the uterus, and blood loss along with clots.

Consequences

The main physical consequence of spontaneous abortion is the persistence of residues inside the uterus that, if not removed in time by a doctor, could cause an infection. In addition, it can generate emotional consequences in women as well as feelings of anxiety, guilt and depression, among others.

Although having suffered a spontaneous abortion does not mean that in the future you will not be able to have healthy pregnancies until their end, if two or more unintentional abortions occur, it is advisable to go to the doctor to do the relevant tests and look for any abnormality that may be the cause of losses.

-Failed or incomplete abortion

In certain cases, spontaneous abortion can be complicated if the body does not expel the remains for weeks and they remain inside the uterus, until they are observed in the nearest ultrasound and an intervention is necessary to remove them; When abortion happens under these conditions, it is known as a failed abortion.

characteristics

This abortion is characterized by the partial expulsion of the fetus or placenta. There is also the presence of uterine bleeding that can persist for weeks, as well as cramps, mild or sharp pain and marked cervical dilation.

Consequences

If the visit to the corresponding doctor is not made to perform the necessary intervention to remove the retained remains of the failed abortion, a uterine infection can be generated.

In addition, failed abortion and retention of remains in the uterus often cause clotting problems; therefore, there are also possible risks when performing the corresponding surgical intervention, such as causing bleeding that may even cause the woman to exsanguinate.

-Septic or infection abortion

Although there are different possible causes for a spontaneous abortion, one of the most prominent is when it is caused by an infection that affects the fetus and causes its death; such abortion is known as septic. It is also called septic or infection abortion when an infection occurs from a failed abortion.

characteristics

It is generally characterized by the presence of general malaise, unexplained fever, chills, intrauterine infection, and intrauterine discharge with a foul-smelling discharge.

Acute abdominal pain may also occur, as well as tenderness in the uterus.

Consequences

If septic abortion is not managed by doctors and appropriate treatments, there may be a risk of developing a more serious infection that significantly compromises the life of the woman.

-Early abortion

By early abortion is understood that spontaneous process that occurs in the first 12 weeks of gestation; that is, at any time before the first 3 months of pregnancy.

characteristics

This type of abortion is characterized by being involuntary and, in some cases, it could occur even without the woman being aware of the pregnancy. It can occur accompanied by pain in the uterus and bleeding.

Because the fetus is still very small, abortion is usually uncomplicated or requires emergency medical intervention. However, it is advisable to visit the gynecologist after knowing for sure that this has happened, or if there is any slight suspicion.

Consequences

Early abortion, as well as spontaneous abortion, does not usually generate consequences in the physical sphere of the woman. In fact, having an early abortion does not mean that it will be more difficult later to carry a healthy pregnancy to its end.

However, as with most abortions, there can be emotional consequences. Many women experience feelings of denial, depression, fear, and even guilt.

-Late abortion

It is that abortion, also spontaneous, that occurs after the 12th week of pregnancy. Although it is generated after the twelfth week, it must occur before the twentieth, since the fact of losing the life of the fetus after the 20th week of pregnancy is known as fetal death or stillbirth.

characteristics

This abortion is usually characterized by generating more intense uterine pain than those that can occur during early abortion, almost as if it were in labor.

It also has significant blood loss, usually accompanied by considerably large clots.

As with early pregnancy, women may experience a late abortion without symptoms that make them realize what is happening, and find out at their next gynecologist visit.

Consequences

Like early and spontaneous abortion, this type of abortion does not cause physical consequences to the woman, although it is more likely that not all the remains of the fetus are completely expelled from the body.

For this reason, a doctor should be consulted to verify and proceed to complete the extraction of missing residues, if any.

-Induced abortion

An induced or induced abortion is generated when the termination of pregnancy occurs voluntarily thanks to certain practices, which can be carried out only by the woman or through medical intervention.

characteristics

An induced abortion can be provoked through several ways: with the use of drugs, surgical procedures and other practices that can be performed by both the woman and a specialist.

This type of abortion generates a lot of controversy around the world because, although there are many countries in which it is allowed with or without conditions for its practice, in others it is not so.

Although it can be done without the need to resort to a specialist - with the use of abortion pills, for example - it is advisable to do it under medical supervision since it could be complicated and put the mother's life at risk.

Consequences

As induced abortion is still not legal in some countries, and in other cases it may not be accessible to women with low socioeconomic conditions, it is a fact that women can resort to dangerous practices or places in poor conditions to perform it, putting their lives at risk. health and may even cause death.

Induced abortions that are performed under medical practices such as aspiration can cause physical damage to the woman, such as perforations in the walls of the uterus that could complicate the correct development of subsequent pregnancies, as well as complications when giving birth or generating a propensity for childbirth premature.

In addition to the problems mentioned above, complications can also arise at the time of abortion, either due to poor medical practices or unexpected bodily reactions of the woman.

Another important factor is the risk of acquiring an infection during the abortion due to uncleanliness from the doctor or other reasons.

On the other hand, it has been proven that induced abortion can increase the chances of suffering from placenta previa in subsequent pregnancies, which puts the life of both the mother and the fetus at risk.

As with miscarriages, miscarriage can cause emotional consequences, such as feelings of guilt and anxiety. It has been studied that induced abortion tends to generate such deep emotional problems that it can lead to subsequent self-harm.

-Pharmacological or chemical abortion

It is that induced abortion induced through the use of medications. It is usually done through the ingestion of pills like misoprostol, which is actually used to treat gastric ulcers; or mifepristone, a synthetic hormone used to block the release of progesterone.

characteristics

The drugs used as abortive methods have two functions: first, they seek to end the emission of progesterone (a hormone necessary for the correct gestation of the fetus or embryo) and, in this way, with the life of the fetus, since it is released from the uterus.

Second, the drugs help to dilate the cervix to facilitate delivery of the fetus.

When the aforementioned drugs are ingested it is usually accompanied by possible side effects, as well as cramps and pain, vaginal bleeding, fever, nausea and vomiting.

Consequences

Induced abortion through this method can bring complications as well as an incomplete abortion, in which not all the waste is expelled. If this is not treated promptly, it can lead to infection.

-Surgical abortion

Surgical abortion is that intentional abortion that is performed through surgical practices such as aspiration, hysterotomy, saline injection, dilation and curettage.

characteristics

The characteristics of this type of abortion vary according to the surgical method performed. When the abortion is performed through dilation and curettage, the cervix is ​​dilated and then the walls of the uterus are scraped with the use of specific instruments; hospitalization is not required after the procedure, but rest is recommended.

If the abortion is performed by manual or electric suction, a manual or electric suction device is inserted through the cervix (previously dilated) and often causes pain and blood loss.

When the gestation time is less than 12 weeks, manual aspiration is recommended as it is considered less painful.

When performing an abortion by saline injection, the amniotic fluid from the placenta (vital for the fetus) is withdrawn with an injector and replaced with a saline solution that causes contractions and subsequent expulsion of the fetus and placenta.

Abortion through hysterotomy is usually used when the fetus has already passed 12 weeks, since this procedure is used for cesarean sections and requires much more care and preparation. It consists of making an incision at the level of the belly after having sedated the woman, and removing the placenta.

Consequences

Among the possible consequences of surgical interventions to achieve an induced abortion is the possibility of perforations in the uterus that can complicate the possible development of subsequent pregnancies, as well as increase the possibility of suffering premature birth.

As the methods used are invasive and can cause severe pain to the woman during their performance, local or generalized anesthesia is commonly used to perform the chosen procedure; side effects of anesthesia include dizziness and nausea, malaise, and headache.

However, the most important complications that can arise from a surgically induced abortion are infections of the uterus, infections of the urinary system, inflammation of the pelvis, bleeding and severe pain.

After the abortion process, a hormonal disorder can be generated in the woman that causes the absence of menstruation (amenorrhea); It could also generate abundance in menstruation (hypermenorrhea).

Neither can the possible consequence of having participated in an intervention that was not carried out correctly and the abortion not completed.

This may imply that remains of the fetus or the placenta have been left that may go unnoticed until symptoms of a possible intrauterine infection appear that again requires surgical intervention and treatment.

Surgical abortions can be divided into:

D&A (dilation and aspiration) (First trimester)

D&L (dilation and curettage) (First trimester)

D&E (dilation and evacuation) (Second quarter)

D&X (dilation and extraction) (Second quarter)

-Complete abortion

It means that the body has expelled all the products of pregnancy (blood, tissue, embryo) and there is no need for surgery (vacuum aspiration). The only way to make sure you have had a complete abortion is to have an ultrasound 10 days or a negative pregnancy test 3 to 4 weeks after using the medications.

-Legal abortion

It refers to an abortion that is performed within the laws of a certain country.

- Illegal abortion

Abortion that is done illegally.

-Therapeutic abortion

It is a kind of induced abortion that is performed to prevent or cure a health problem suffered by the mother.

-Abortion of choice

It is a class of induced abortion that is performed by choices other than therapeutic ones.

References

1. Thorp, J., Hartmann, K., Shadigian, E. (2004). Long-term physical and psychological health consequences of induced abortion: review of the evidence. Retrieved on April 8, 2019 from the National Center for Biotechnology Information: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2. (2013). Diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous, incomplete, delayed and recurrent abortion. Retrieved on April 8, 2019 from the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador: salud.gob.ec
3. (2012). Safe Abortion: Policy and Technical Guidance for Health Systems. Retrieved on April 8, 2019 from the World Health Organization: apps.who.int
4. (2017). Stillbirth: Trying to understand. Retrieved on April 7, 2019 from the American Pregnancy Association: americanpregnancy.org
5. (2018). In these countries abortion is legal (and in these others it is not allowed under any circumstances). Retrieved on April 7, 2019 from CNN Español: cnnespanol.cnn.com
6. Bernal, R. (sf) Abortion: bioethics as a principle of life. Retrieved on April 7, 2019 from the University of Cantabria: repositorio.unican.es