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Brianna Ali Gonzalez

Professor Mario Martinez

English 1302-104

6 December 2022

Abortion and its facts

Research shows that about 629,898 abortions were performed in the year 2019. There are

multiple types of abortion. The ones that are going to be spoken about are the medication

abortion (the pill), suction (surgical), and dilation & curettage (D&C). We will be reading about

these methods and the health risks a women may have going through these procedures.

The “pill” consists of two medications, which are mifepristone and misoprostol: they’re

known as the pregnancy enders. The medication abortion or the “Pill” is used to trigger cramping

and bleeding causing the uterus to empty itself out, it is often compared to a heavy menstrual

cycle (excessive bleeding and cramping). The medication abortion is done in two simple steps:

The patient takes “the pill mifepristone, which stops the development of the pregnancy. Now

according to Medication to Manage Abortion and Miscarriage the reason this type of abortion is

the most popular is because it is the most effective and easiest:

Given their safety and efficacy, mifepristone and misoprostol can be offered in

ambulatory settings without special equipment or on-site emergency services. As more

patients find it difficult to access clinical care when faced with an undesired pregnancy or

a miscarriage, it is important for general internists and primary care providers to become

familiar with how to use medications to manage these common conditions.

This medication causes your uterus (womb) to cramp and pass the pregnancy tissue out of your

uterus” (Abortion). For the pill to be most effective the pregnancy must be 9 weeks or less.
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Between 24 to 48 hours later, you take a second medicine, called misoprostol, at home. The

medication abortion is the most preferred since it can be done in the comfort of the patient’s

home; however, there is always a chance it may not work, and it may require a suction abortion.

Now the suction (surgical) abortion is performed in-clinic and usually takes up to 10

minutes. The procedure is preformed manually, and patients are often given anesthesia to help

with the discomfort during the procedure. After the procedure the patient will be asked to wait

15-45 minutes until they are ready to leave, there may be some light bleeding 1-7 days and may

continue for up to 4-6 weeks. According to “Abortion.” Journal of Midwifery & Women's

Health, vol. 62, no. 3, 2017, pp. 383–384., doi:10.1111/jmwh.12634, the suction method is 99%

effective; however, there is a chance the procedure may not work, and the patient may need to go

through the procedure again, and patients also the run risk of infection and risk injury to the cervix,

uterus, or other organs.

The last procedure is known as D&C (dilation and curettage). This procedure is the most

dangerous but extremely effective. This procedure is done after having a miscarriage or an abortion. D&C

is a surgical procedure that dilates the cervix so that the uterine lining can be scraped by a curette (spoon

shaped instrument). This procedure is done so that the doctors can remove any abnormal or remaining

tissues after an abortion. Dilation and Curettage comes with extreme risks to the women’s reproductive

system such as: perforation of the uterus, damage to the cervix, scar tissue on the uterine wall, infection,

and infertility.

Since new laws are being passed one must wonder what will happen to women’s health. The

United States is now limiting when, how, where, and why women should be allowed to get an abortion.

According to the article How Will Recent Legislation Affect Women’s Health?’ seven states have now

banned abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected which is at 6-8 weeks, while the eight state: Alabama

only allows abortion if a women’s life is compromised. The new laws don’t include sexual assault victims
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and those who are not physically, mentally, or financially prepared. There have been many debates about

the linkages between abortion and mental health. Now the mental affects and strains before and after

abortion vary for each person. According to” The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry”

abortion has been linked to small and moderate increase in anxiety, alcohol misuse, illicit drug

use/misuse, and suicidal behavior. The mental health issues that can be reduced or increased are

depression, anxiety.

Studies show that depression and anxiety have been prone to increase or begin with abortion;

however, there hasn’t been much research on whether it can be reduced or stopped. It is known that

psychiatric history affects women’s pre-and postabortion. There are six emotions found after abortion

are: relief, guilt, emptiness, closure, mourning, and pride. The study that was conducted included women

that were randomly selected with no prior knowledge if they had any mental health problem. According

to Van Ditzhuijzen, Jenneke, et al. “The Impact of Psychiatric History on Women's Pre- and Postabortion

Experiences.” Contraception, vol. 92, no. 3, 2015.

It is relevant to find out whether women with and without pre-abortion mental

disorders (MDs) respond differently to an event like unwanted pregnancy and subsequent

abortion, as this might influence future mental health. For example, research has shown that

women who experienced doubt during abortion decision making, or felt pressure to have the

abortion, had poorer mental health outcomes postabortion [1], [18], [19]. Abortion

experience variables might also mediate or moderate any possible effects of pre-abortion

mental health on postabortion mental health. A study showed that abortion-specific self-

efficacy partly mediated the relationship between pre- and postabortion depression [20].

In a study conducted it was shown that women with known mental disorders were more likely to

report higher levels of doubt and more negative postabortion emotions. The only thing that women with

prior psychiatric problem and women without have in common is the amount of pressure, positive
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postabortion emotions, and doubts about their decision. After the study was conducted it is believed that

with history of mental disorders have a harder time before and after the procedure such as: doubts before

the abortion, negative emotions after the procedure, coping, and the burden of pregnancy and abortion.

Negative experience with abortion is believed to come from previous mental health problems.

In conclusion, abortion can be an extremely easy or very difficult procedure to conduct and

endure. Abortion has its mental and physical health risks for both the doctor and the woman choosing to

preform and undergo the procedure. It has been proven to have both positive and negative effects. This

procedure is something a person must give extreme thought to since it is not easy to endure.

Sources
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“Abortion.” Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, vol. 62, no. 3, 2017, pp. 383–384.,

doi:10.1111/jmwh.12634.

Allen, Rebecca H, et al. “Pain Management of First-Trimester Surgical Abortion: Effects of

Selection of Local Anesthesia with and Without Lorazepam or Intravenous Sedation.”

Contraception, vol. 74, no. 5, 2006, pp. 407–413.,

doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2006.06.002.

Beaman, Jessica, and Eleanor Bimla Schwarz. “Medication to Manage Abortion and

Miscarriage.” Journal of General Internal Medicine, vol. 35, no. 8, 2020, pp. 2398–2405.,

doi:10.1007/s11606-020-05836-9.

Duffy, Deirdre Niamh, et al. “Abortion, Emotions, and Health Provision: Explaining Health Care

Professionals' Willingness to Provide Abortion Care Using Affect Theory.” Women's

Studies International Forum, vol. 71, 2018.

Fergusson, David M, et al. “Does Abortion Reduce the Mental Health Risks of Unwanted or

Unintended Pregnancy? A Re-Appraisal of the Evidence.” The Australian and New

Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 47, no. 9, 2013, pp. 819–27.,

doi:10.1177/0004867413484597.

Medoff, Marshall. “The Impact of State Abortion Policies on Teen Pregnancy Rates.” Social

Indicators Research, vol. 97, no. 2, 2010, pp. 177–189., doi:10.1007/s11205-009-9495-9.

Van Ditzhuijzen, Jenneke, et al. “The Impact of Psychiatric History on Women's Pre- and

Postabortion Experiences.” Contraception, vol. 92, no. 3, 2015.

Zolot, Joan. “How Will Recent Abortion Legislation Affect Women's Health?” The American

Journal of Nursing, vol. 119, no. 8, 2019, pp. 15–15.,

doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000577384.68834.aa.
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