Induced abortion

Question 1

What is an induced abortion?

Answer 1

The willful termination of pregnancy.

Question 2

True or false: Worldwide one woman dies every six

minutes from unsafe abortions.

Answer 2

True.

Question 3

Are the most of induced abortions performed on a global scale safe or unsafe abortions?

Answer 3

The most are unsafe abortions.

Question 4

What are the differences between a safe and unsafe induced abortion?

Answer 4

Unsafe abortions are carried out by people either lacking necessary skills and/or medicines and equipment, and/or in an environment that does not conform to minimal medical standards. Only safe abortions have negligible health risks.

Question 5

What are the most common complication due to unsafe abortions?

Answer 5

Trauma to cervix, uterus, vagina or abdominal organs.
Infection (and sepsis).
Hemorrhage.
Poisoning from substances/toxins used to terminate pregnancy.

Question 6

True or false: Restrictive abortion laws are associated with lower abortion rates.

Answer 6

False. (E.g. The rate is 29/1000 women in Africa and 32/1000 woman in Latin America. Whereas the rate is 12/1000 in Western Europe.)

Question 7

What age group has the highest rate of induced abortion in Norway? How has the rate of induced abortions developed in different age groups over the last years?

Answer 7

Women 20-24 years have the highest rate.

The rate of induced abortions have declined in all age groups over the last years.

Question 8

In Norway certain preventive measures have been implemented to reduce the rate of induced abortions. What are the preventive measures?

Answer 8

Sex education.
Easy access to contraception. Public health nurses and midwifes can prescribe hormonal contraceptives.
Emergency contraceptives without prescription.

Question 9

Until what week can a woman have an induced abortion on request in Norway?

Answer 9

Until week 12 of pregnancy.

Question 10

At what time in pregnancy is abortion not allowed, under any circumstances, by law in Norway?

Answer 10

If the fetus is viable abortion is not allowed in week 21+6.

Question 11

What is the doctor consulted by a woman wanting to request/apply for a induced abortion under obligation to inform about?

Answer 11

How the abortion is carried out.
Possible complications.
Support provided by society, if she decides not to have an abortion.
Alternative methods of contraception after the abortion.

Question 12

What is to be included in a consultation with a patient wanting to request an abortion?

Answer 12

Rhesus typing and chlamydia test.
The patient has to sign the request for induced abortion.
A specific journal is filled out by the health care provider.
The hospital is obliged to ask if she wants further counseling.
Examination with transvaginal ultrasound.

Question 13

What is most common in Norway, surgically or medically induced abortion?

Answer 13

Medically induced abortion.

Question 14

If a woman applies for an abortion after 11+6 weeks of pregnancy who evaluates her apply? What happens if the apply is denied?

Answer 14

A committee of two doctors evaluates the woman’s application. If her apply is denied the application is automatically re-evaluated by a new committee called an appeals committee.

Question 15

What are reasons abortion may be granted after 12+0 and 18+0 weeks of pregnancy?

Answer 15

Unreasonable strain on the woman’s mental or physical health.
Difficult circumstances.
Major risk the child will suffer from a serious disease.
Rape or other sexual crime.
If the woman is suffering from severe mental illness or mental retardation.

Question 16

How common are complications following safe induced abortions?

Answer 16

Complications occur in 5 % of cases.

Question 17

What are the most common complications following medically and surgically induced abortions?

Answer 17

Medical: Bleeding, incomplete abortion (prolonged bleeding or infection), and failure of treatment.

Surgical: Bleeding, infection, perforation, and Asherman’s syndrome (infertility).

Question 18

How are induced abortions followed up/controlled in Norway?

Answer 18

Medical abortions: U-hCG 4 weeks after abortion. If positive contact gynecological outpatient clinic.
Surgical abortions: No control needed.

Question 19

How long is it normal to bleed following an induced abortion?

Answer 19

It is normal to bleed more than during ones normal menstruation during the first 10-12 days. Sparse brown or dark reddish discharge is normal during the first 2-3 weeks.

Question 20

What is it important to avoid for a period following an induced abortion?

Answer 20

Avoid using tampons.

Avoid sexual intercourse and tub baths for the first two weeks or until the bleeding has stopped.

Question 21

For how long is it normal that a pregnancy test is positive following an induced abortion?

Answer 21

It is normal for a test to be positive up to 3-4 weeks after the abortion.

Question 22

What is there to note about the first menstruation following an induced abortion?

Answer 22

Menstruation usually returns 4-6 weeks after the abortion, and is often heavier and longer in duration than a normal period.

Question 23

When should a patient resume normal physical activity following an induced abortion?

Answer 23

Patients should be encouraged to resume normal physical activity as soon as possible.

Question 24

Is it normal to continue to experience period-like pains following an induced abortion?

Answer 24

Yes, it is.

Question 25

In what cases should patients seek medical help following an induced abortion?

Answer 25

If pain or heavy bleeding with clots lasts longer than 2 weeks.
If bleeding lasts longer than 4 weeks.
If the patient experiences fever (temp. > 38 degrees celsius).