Dealing with an unwanted pregnancy is a serious concern for any woman. Whichever decision she makes, her future always concerns her. Speaking of pregnancy termination, if abortion will affect her fertility is one of the biggest concerns. 

This blog helps you understand how abortion can have an impact on women’s bodies and how it impacts women’s fertility.

Surgical abortion:

Be it suction or dilation, surgical termination of pregnancy is one of the safest ways one can terminate the pregnancy. Though it involves certain risks such as infection to the vaginal area, etc. infertility is not one of the side effects. After a surgical abortion, your menstrual cycle continues, and you remain as fertile as you were before. 

Medical abortion:

Medical abortion means taking a combination of abortion pills such as Mifepristone and Misoprostol and ending the pregnancy at home. Before you understand if abortion impacts your future pregnancy or fertility, you must understand its process to make things clear. 

The consumption of abortion pills:

One pill of Mifepristone and four pills of Misoprostol are typically enough for successfully ending an unwanted pregnancy. The use of Mifepristone has to be oral, while the use of Misoprostol is expected to be either vaginal or buccal.

The process: How an abortion pill work?

Mifepristone is a pill that comes with an anti-progesterone component that works against the pregnancy-growing hormone in the body. After stopping the pregnancy, it also detaches the fetus from the uterus. It makes the further process easier for Misoprostol pill working. With its prostaglandin components, the Misoprostol pill makes hormonal changes in the body and contracts the lining of the uterus.

After you consume both abortion pills, cramps in the abdominal area and vaginal bleeding are the two crucial visible changes that took place in the body. These are called symptoms of medical pregnancy termination. 

When you observe these symptoms, you almost come to an end of the pregnancy termination procedure. It is advised to speak to your healthcare provider if the symptoms do not show. The cramps may last for up to a few hours; on the other hand, bleeding can last for about 2-8 days depending on the pregnancy growth and its gestation. 

If your body fails to show the symptoms, it can be a sign of incomplete medical pregnancy termination. In such cases, the doctor may suggest taking an extra four pills of Misoprostol to remove pregnancy tissues. 

What are the side effects of abortion pills?

The side effects of abortion pills include nausea, vomiting, headache, mild fever, excessive bleeding, bloated breasts, diarrhea, etc. All these side effects of abortion pills do not last for more than a week or two. Since none of them has a more prolonged impact on the body, they do not even affect fertility.

Do abortion pills affect your future fertility? 

No. Even after you consume abortion pills and end the pregnancy, your menstrual cycle returns within a month or two. The menstruation cycle becomes as it was before consuming the abortion pills. Hence, the pills do not have any impact on the fertility of the woman. Women should also note the fact that abortion medications do not even have any effect on the quality of the eggs. 

If there’s any concern found with the quality of the eggs after medical abortion, there’s no correlation between the two events. The study suggests that women who have a medical abortion in the past can have a healthy pregnancy and its delivery. The study has back thousands of cases where women gave birth, usually despite abortion history.

In a nutshell:

Medical or surgical termination of pregnancy does not make you infertile in the future. All the side effects of abortion, especially medical abortion, are temporary in nature. The fertility level remains the same as it was before undergoing the pregnancy termination procedure. 

Stat says 25% of women who wish to prevent unwanted pregnancy rely on birth control pills. Though birth control pills are an effective way of preventing a planned pregnancy, nausea is one of the side effects that it has. 

Why do birth control pills cause nausea? 

Estrogen is a hormone that is usually present in the birth control pill. When you take the pill, it primarily works in the reproductive organ of the body. This component gives an uneasy feeling to the woman. Hence when the woman consumes the contraceptive pill, she encounters nausea or uneasy feeling.  

How can you prevent nausea while you are on the contraceptive medications? 

Here are a few things that you can consider while you are on the birth control pills. Women should note that these instructions are not specifically for the nauseous feeling when you are on the birth control pills only. You may take it into consideration for nauseous feeling in general. 

• First thing, Eat light. Do not consume foods that are too heavy. Not only does the heavy food increase the nauseous feeling, but it also creates hurdles in the working of medication. 

• Follow a diet that does not involve too many flavoury foods. 

• If you feel nauseous, have some carbonated or fizzy drinks with you. 

• Ginger or lemon tea can be a good alternative to carbonated drinks.

• Have controlled deep breaths after every few hours.

• Do not get involved in any physical activity after you have lunch or dinner.

• Also, you can prevent nausea by not taking the medication on an empty stomach. Have some light, healthy food, and then begin the birth control pill course.
• If you feel that you are too sensitive for nausea, you can speak to your healthcare provider and keep anti-vomiting tablets ready. 

What should you know about birth control pills? 

• Birth control pills typically contain a combination of estrogen and progestin hormone. These components thicken the cervix and block the path of sperm. As a result, sperm cannot enter the uterus to fertilize the egg, thereby preventing an unwanted pregnancy.  
• Additionally, the components make changes in the lining of the uterus. Hence, even if the sperm reaches the egg, the components make it difficult to have implantation or grow the pregnancy. 

Ever asked why a woman you know, a relative or a partner, seems sad and looks depleted or dull regularly? You may likewise have seen that she has lost excitement in their regular activities, doesn’t eat her food appropriately or is constantly diverted from work. Such signs show that women may be experiencing depression. Most women generally experience depression after abortion as it is a very serious issue that badly affects the health of women physically and mentally.

It is normally fine to feel upset, sad or disappointing after abortion and it stays for more than 15 days or tends to repeat frequently and affect health and normal life. So if any women experience such symptoms after abortion then it can be a sign of clinical depression which requires medical assistance.

Thoughts and caring for a woman who had an abortion in recent

You can help women who are experiencing sorrow and depression. In spite of the fact that it might, it may be difficult to convince her to accept the truth and search for help. However, you can help her to overcome abortion and help her to recover fast after abortion. 

As a Partner, you can:

1.Be progressively cool, mindful and understanding. 

2. Speak with her and listen to her with empathy. 

3. Motivate her and make her expressive to share her feelings. 

4. Help her to participate in exercises since keeping her active is the basic solution toward sadness. 

5. Be alert for remarks on suicide and immediately consult a medical expert.

Coping and Self- Recovery after Abortion:

Along with treatment or therapy, a woman should take care of herself however, it can not be so easy but small changes in everyday routine can assist to cope up with depression.

Overlook your anxiety and fears –

Generally, when women feel distressed or sad she avoids talking to others or does not travel, go out, etc. So it is advised to confront your anxiety and slowly continue with all the responsibilities.

Break down the cycle of Negativity –

One of the primary manifestations of depression is the nonstop inclination of being pointless, useless, and guilt. Such thoughts should be observed and monitored. Try to maintain a strategic distance from negative thoughts and change it with productive and positive thinking.

Plan your daily activities and maintain a proper routine –

Considering that mental illness disturbs your sleep patterns, so it is advised to sleep at the same time every day and try to follow your daily activities and routine every day. Exercise, yoga, listening to songs, go for a movie, go on a date with your partner, spend some time with your family all this will help you to divert your mind and recover faster.

Family support –

Seek help and support from family members and friends. Discuss your thoughts with your loved ones and take therapy or treatment as advised by the medical expert. This will help you to overpower depression quickly. Motivation and Self-determination is a crucial factor to overpower depression issues.