ACOG’s November 2017 Statement of Policy reads in part:
Induced abortion is an essential component of women’s health care
. Like all medical matters, decisions regarding abortion should be made by patients in consultation with their health care providers and without undue interference by outside parties.
Why is abortion a part of healthcare?
The best plans do not always work out. And when that happens, abortion is an essential part of health care.
Abortion allows women to plan and space their pregnancies, which improves their physical, psychological and economic well-being
.
Is an abortion a medical treatment?
Medical abortion is a procedure that uses medication to end a pregnancy
. A medical abortion doesn’t require surgery or anesthesia and can be started either in a medical office or at home with follow-up visits to your doctor. It’s safer and most effective during the first trimester of pregnancy.
What is the role of the healthcare professional in relation to the abortion issue?
Health-care professionals
must be well informed in order to respond safely and appropriately to a diverse range of clinical scenarios in which decisions regarding abortion are required
. Research and evidence of test cases will better inform how abortion issues evolve and are managed.
Is a fetus a baby?
What is a fetus? After the embryonic period has ended at the end of the 10th week of pregnancy, the embryo is now considered a fetus.
A fetus is a developing baby beginning in the 11th week of pregnancy
.
What is the health care?
Health care or healthcare is
the maintenance or improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration, or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in people
. Health care is delivered by health professionals and allied health fields.
How many unsafe abortions happen each year?
Health risks. Unsafe abortion is a major cause of injury and death among women worldwide. It is estimated that
nearly 25 million
unsafe abortions take place annually.
How painful is a medical abortion?
Most women say the pain is worse than a heavy period
. The amount of pain will differ from woman to woman, but generally women report more pain the further along their pregnancy is. You’ll probably have some pain or cramping for a few days to a week after the abortion.
What is the success rate of medical abortion?
Evidence shows that medication abortion is safe. Serious complications requiring hospitalization for infection treatment or transfusion occur in less than 0.4% of patients under the standard protocol. Medication abortion is highly effective; it has a success rate of
more than 95%
using the standard protocol.
What are the complications of medical abortion?
Potential complications related to abortions include
pain, bleeding, an incomplete abortion, or an infection in the upper genital tract that causes endometritis, oophoritis, parametritis, and salpingitis
.
How are nurses involved in abortion?
Nurses and midwives
provide technical and psychosocial care to women who seek abortions
. Governments and regulatory bodies could safely extend their scope of practice to increase women’s access to safe abortions.
How does abortion affect nursing?
A recent research study found that
being more directly involved in the procedure places more emotional demands on the nurses
. This emotional labour required by nurses working in abortion care may increase their stress levels. This paper examines the potential increase in stress in nurses caused by medical abortions.
Where do nurses stand on abortion?
More nurses today refuse to perform abortion unless the procedure is necessary
, such as in cases of: 1) rape; 2) incest; and 3) threat to the health or life of the mother. Violence, intimidation, or interference with those who attempt to obtain or provide abortion causes nurses’ reluctance to participate.
Can a fetus scream?
While it’s true your baby can cry in the womb, it doesn’t make a sound, and it’s not something to worry about
. The baby’s practice cries include imitating the breathing pattern, facial expression, and mouth movements of a baby crying outside of the womb.
Does a fetus have a heartbeat?
The heart of an embryo starts beating at about week 5 of pregnancy
. It may be possible to detect, at this point, using vaginal ultrasound. Throughout the pregnancy and delivery, healthcare providers monitor the heartbeat of the fetus. Anyone who has concerns about the fetal heartbeat should contact a doctor.
Does life start at conception?
Life Begins at Fertilization with the Embryo’s Conception
. “Development of the embryo begins at Stage 1 when a sperm fertilizes an oocyte and together they form a zygote.” “Human development begins after the union of male and female gametes or germ cells during a process known as fertilization (conception).
How important is health care?
High-quality health care helps prevent diseases and improve quality of life
. Healthy People 2030 focuses on improving health care quality and making sure all people get the health care services they need. Helping health care providers communicate more effectively can help improve health and well-being.
What are examples of health services?
- Mental health care.
- Dental care.
- Laboratory and diagnostic care.
- Substance abuse treatment.
- Preventative care.
- Physical and occupational therapy.
- Nutritional support.
- Pharmaceutical care.
Which is correct healthcare or health care?
“
Health care
—two words—refers to provider actions. Healthcare—one word—is a system.
What are the side effects of an abortion?
Side effects of this abortion procedure include:
cramping, pelvic pain, uterine damage, injury to the bowel, bladder, or cervix, heavy bleeding, or more serious complications
. Blood loss, damage to the uterus, and infection are the most common side effects.
How can we manage unsafe abortion?
Measures that would reduce the incidence of unsafe abortion include:
The creation of policy and legislative frameworks that are less restrictive
The scale up of sexual and reproductive health services to reduce unwanted pregnancies The provision of safe abortion services to the fullest extent of the law Education on …
Is medical abortion less painful than surgical?
There is typically less pain for less time than with a medication abortion
. If you have anemia (low iron), this is the recommended procedure as a medication abortion includes more bleeding. It can be easier to keep an aspiration abortion private as there is minimal bleeding and cramping at home.
Do abortions affect fertility?
In most cases, an abortion does not affect fertility or future pregnancies
. It is possible to ovulate and become pregnant within 2 weeks of an abortion. In rare cases, surgical abortion can cause scarring of the uterine wall or damage to the cervix. These complications may make it more difficult to get pregnant again.
