Medical abortion
Medical Abortion
Medical abortion (pronunciation: /ˈmɛdɪkəl æbɔːrʃən/) is a type of non-surgical abortion in which pharmaceutical drugs are used to induce abortion. An oral preparation for medical abortion is commonly referred to as an "abortion pill".
Etymology
The term "medical abortion" is derived from the words "medical", which comes from the Latin "medicus" meaning "physician", and "abortion", which comes from the Latin "abortio" meaning "miscarriage".
Procedure
Medical abortion involves the use of medications, typically Mifepristone and Misoprostol, to terminate an early pregnancy. Mifepristone, also known as RU-486, is taken first to block the hormone progesterone needed for the pregnancy to continue. After two days, Misoprostol is taken to cause contractions and expel the pregnancy.
Related Terms
- Mifepristone: A steroid medication used to cause an abortion in combination with misoprostol.
- Misoprostol: A medication used to start labor, cause an abortion, prevent and treat stomach ulcers, and treat postpartum bleeding due to poor contraction of the uterus.
- Surgical Abortion: A procedure that ends a pregnancy by removing the fetus and placenta from the mother's womb.
- Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body.
Risks and Complications
Like all medical procedures, medical abortion carries potential risks. These may include incomplete abortion, heavy bleeding, infection, and negative psychological impact. It is important to have a follow-up appointment with a healthcare provider to ensure the procedure was successful and to monitor for any potential complications.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Medical abortion
- Wikipedia's article - Medical abortion
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