A serious medical procedure, abortion, comes with potential risks and side effects. An incomplete abortion is one of such risks associated with medical or surgical abortion. Though considered a rare phenomenon, it can have fatal consequences if not appropriately treated by medical professionals. Therefore, getting examined by a physician is crucial to check for the signs of incomplete abortion.
What is an Incomplete Abortion?
The purpose of abortion is to eliminate all contents of the embryo from the uterus. However, an incomplete abortion is more likely to occur when the remaining content is not removed completely within a medical abortion procedure (abortion pill).
The only way to confirm if you have an incomplete abortion is typically through an ultrasound. If your abortion is incomplete, some doctors might recommend another dose related to misoprostol to facilitate contractions of the uterus again.
Risks Related to Abortion
Surgical and medical, both abortions come with numerous side effects and risks. Here find out about the risks associated with both the procedures to make a well-informed decision.
Potential Risks Associated With the Medical Abortion
- Incomplete medical abortion may be required to be followed by surgical abortion.
- Ongoing unwanted pregnancy
- Discomfort related to the digestive system
- Prolonged and heavy bleeding
- Fever
- Infection
Potential Risks Associated With the Surgical Abortion
- Damage to the cervix
- Prolonged heavy bleeding
- Scar tissue on the uterine wall
- Perforation related to the uterus
- Infection
Signs of Incomplete Abortion
When a few pregnancy tissues remain in the womb, it results in incomplete abortion. This, in turn, leads to painful symptoms that require immediate medical attention.
The possibility of incomplete abortion escalates in the case of medical abortion as there is less interaction between a user and a medical professional. However, it is still possible for the abortion to be incomplete regardless of the type of procedure you are undergoing.
Here are the signs of incomplete abortion.
- Vaginal bleeding (moderate to severe - using more than a pad every hour)
- Passing blood clots
- Bleeding lasting for three weeks or more
- Bleeding does not get lighter with the passing days
- Severe cramps
- Feeling discomfort while pressing your abdomen
- Recurrent pain in the lower abdomen
- Severe pain in the buttocks, back, perineum, and genitalia
- High fever lasting more than two days
What Should I Do Now?
Are you still not sure whether the symptoms you are experiencing are related to incomplete abortion or not? It is better to seek medical consultation if you are still unsure about the signs of incomplete abortion to avoid infection in the future. You may be experiencing unbearable pain.
Thus, it is recommended to consult your local doctor or a medical professional before the condition worsens. The doctors will diagnose the symptoms at the earliest and provide you with the necessary medical procedures so that you recover soon.
References
- Ashley Redinger, July 2021; Incomplete Abortions - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559071/
- Incomplete Abortion - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/incomplete-abortion
