Are you pregnant and wondering how to stop pregnancy after one month? This post will give you more information in this context. The chances of successfully stopping a pregnancy primarily depend on your overall health and well-being and also on the progression of your pregnancy. Make sure you talk to your doctor before going through the procedure and also that there will be fewer chances of complications if you try to get pregnant in the future. Read on to know about the methods that might be used to stop pregnancy and the possible risks that it entails.
How To Stop Pregnancy Without Surgical Abortion?
Some options that the health practitioner might suggest before considering surgical interventions include:
1. Medical abortion
This method uses pills and is usually recommended within nine weeks of pregnancy. In some cases, it may also be considered beyond nine weeks. You do not have to get admitted to a hospital as pills can be safely used in the privacy of your home (1). But you may have to visit the doctor through the course of the treatment. The doctor is likely to put you on a course of two tablets, mifepristone and misoprostol:
First, mifepristone is given to block the progesterone hormone and for thinning the uterine wall lining.
Misoprostol is given 48 hours after that to induce uterine muscle contractions. This leads to bleeding and cramping. The embryo and uterine remains may leave the uterus in the next few days. And the bleeding might continue for seven to ten days.
An ultrasound is done after two weeks to ensure that everything is cleared, and there are no tissue remains. If there are any retained tissues, they may be removed surgically.
2. Saline water method
In this method, a small quantity of amniotic fluid is taken out, and the saline solution is administered into the amniotic sac directly using a needle. The salt solution burns the fetus, and the body undergoes labor around this time to expel the fetus (2). In some cases, labor does not occur, and prostaglandins are injected to induce uterine contractions. If these methods do not work, you may have to choose the surgical options.
How To Stop Pregnancy With Surgical Abortion?
The surgical abortion that the doctor recommends will depend on the pregnancy stage. The two common methods include manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and dilation and evacuation (D&E), which are performed in the hospital and require local anesthesia.
1. MVA
This is performed during the initial 12 weeks of pregnancy. Local anesthesia is used to numb the cervical region. Then the cervix is opened using a tenaculum and is held in a dilated position. A thin cannula, attached to suction, is passed into your uterus through the cervical canal to remove the fetus and uterine tissues. The procedure takes 10 to 15 minutes, and you may have to stay in the hospital for a few hours for optimum recovery. It is a relatively safe and gentle procedure with fewer complications (3).
2. D&E
This is performed in or after the 13th week of pregnancy and is usually the last option when the other methods to terminate the pregnancy after one month fail or are not viable. A few hours before the actual procedure, a dilator is inserted into the cervix to help dilate it. The practitioner gives spinal anesthesia or general anesthesia to numb the cervical area. A tenaculum is then passed to open the cervix and uterus. The cervical canal is dilated with probes of increasing size. Then a cannula, which is attached to a pump, is passed into the uterus. The pump provides a gentle vacuum to remove fetal and uterine tissues. Later, a curette is used to scrape the uterine lining and tissue residue. The procedure takes 15 to 30 minutes, and you may have to stay in the hospital for a few hours for optimum recovery. The surgical option is an invasive method, and you may experience dizziness, cramps, nausea, and sweating during the procedure. Some may also have heavy bleeding, cervical damage, blood clots, and perforation in the uterus. Also, there is a chance of infection, and you may develop a fever and abdominal tenderness, for which you should see a doctor (4).
Natural Remedies That Could Stop Pregnancy
Natural ways, including herbs and natural ingredients, are believed to have the efficacy to stop pregnancy, but they might come with a high risk. Use of these herbs could lead to heavy bleeding (due to missed or incomplete abortion), toxicity, and infections. Healthcare practitioners may not recommend them, and their use is mostly based on anecdotal evidence. Although these have been tried, it is recommended not to try them for your safety.
Possible Complications Of Abortion
Abortions are safe only when the health care provider performs/ advises the necessary steps to complete the entire process. Otherwise, there could be complications such as (8):
Infection of the womb Remains of fetal tissues in the womb Failure of termination Excessive bleeding that may require a blood transfusion Cervical damage Damage to the womb Mental health risks in some cases
It is essential to take rest, include enough nutrition, and get the right treatment to return to normalcy in life. Your doctor is likely to offer you the required treatment and advice for your recovery.
How To Speed Up Recovery After The Abortion?
Though you can get back to a normal routine within a few hours of abortion, it is advisable to take rest for two to three days for your body and mind to cope with the exhaustion (9) (10).
Do not lift heavy objects that weigh over 50 pounds. They may aggravate bleeding and lead to complications.
Do not indulge in exercise, including biking, running, and aerobics, to avoid risks.
Monitor your body temperature every day at least for a week as high temperatures might indicate an infection.
Avoid intercourse as the cervix is still tender and will not close quickly. Avoiding sex also decreases the risk of infections. Talk to your doctor to know what the best time to return to sexual activity is.
Use hot compress, such as a hot water bottle or a heating pad on your belly to get relief from cramping and pain.
Avoid swimming and tub bathing for at least two weeks. Otherwise, it may cause irritation and infection in the vaginal area.
Do not use anything, such as tampons or contraceptive implants, inside the vagina for at least two weeks.
Include a rich diet of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, protein, whole grains, and drink a lot of water.
It is advisable to see a doctor within a month after abortion to check if the healing is complete.
