PBL 2 Flashcards
what is an abortion?
a procedure to end pregnancy by taking medication or having a surgical procedure
how can you get an abortion?
self referral by contacting an abortion provider
speaking to a GP for a referral
contact a sexual health clinic for referral
what’s the waiting time for an abortion?
from when you first contact an abortion provider it will be <2 weeks
whats the law in the UK for abortion?
they can be carried out before 24 weeks and only carried out after this time for very limited circumstances e.g. mother’s life is at risk or child would be born with a severe disability
must be approved by 2 doctors that the women fits one of the abortion grounds
whos decision is it to have an abortion?
the mothers alone, you do not have to tell any partners, friends or families unless <13
what pills are taken for a medical abortion
mifepristone and misoprostol taken 24-48 hours apart
how do the medications used in a medical abortion work?
mifepristone bocks progesterone receptors whilst misoprostol binds to myometrial cells to cause myometrial contractions and expulsion of tissue
what are the 2 types of surgical abortions?
suction aspiration or dilation and evacuation
outline a vacuum aspiration?
Removes the pregnancy by gentle suction through a tube in the cervix (takes 5-10 mins).
Up to 14 weeks, this can be done with local anaesthetic. The quicker recovery time for this procedure means you can leave the clinic unattended and drive sooner.
Up to 15 weeks this can be done with sedation or under general anaesthetic.
outline dilation and evacuation surgery?
Carried out under general anaesthetic.
The pregnancy is removed using narrow forceps through the cervix.
You will need cervical preparation on the day of surgery or possibly the day before.
what is cervix preparation?
giving misoprostol/mifepristone with to without absorbent dilators called dilapan. This softens the cervix making it easier to dilate
how is misoprostol given as cervix preparation?
its placed in the vagina 3 hours before surgery or under the tongue 1 hour before surgery
how is mifepristone given as cervix prep?
its swallowed the day before treatment
what are dilapan?
matchstick-sized rods inserted into the cervix 3-24 hours before surgery. They swell to gently open the cervix
what are side effects of abortions?
Nausea; Vomiting; Fever; Chills; Diarrhea; Headache, discomfort
what are possible complications of abortions?
leaving part of the pregnancy in the womb, heavy bleeding, sepsis, infection and injury to womb
how could an abortion lead to increased risk of infertility?
if the abortion causes a womb infection and this is not treated promptly then it could lead to pelvic inflammatory disease
what is pro-life?
opposed to the belief that a pregnant woman should have the freedom to choose an abortion
what is pro-choice?
the belief that women carrying the baby should have a choice of whether to continue the pregnancy or not
what are some pro-life arguments?
life is sacred
killing the foetus is robbing them of their future and is the same as killing a full-fledged adult
life begins at conception
relaxed abortion laws may mean some use abortion as contraception
abortion discriminates against people with disabilities and devalues them
what are some pro-choice arguments?
the foetus hasn’t become a person yet
the women’s body so her chouce
if we forbid abortions then women will try to abort in ways that are far less safe than the ones used legally
women may not have financial stability and therefore a baby isnt even a choice
what was the Roe vs wade abortion programme?
that in trimester 1, abortion is the woman’s choice
in trimester 2, its the woman’s choice with government input
in trimester 3 the states interest in protecting potential human life outfights the womens right to privacy so they may prohibit abortions
when did abortion in the Uk become legal?
in 1967