Do you know what you're getting yourself into?
MYTH #1
Abortion results in infertility.
Fact: Today's abortion techniques are advanced and believed to not cause fertility problems, miscarriage or premature birth in future pregnancies. However, it seriously depends on your body system and how, where and who is performing the surgery. It does cause infertility when complications such as injury to the cervix or fallopian tubes arise during abortion. A late abortion frequently requires a certain material used for dilation that may weaken the cervix and cause infertility. An abortion carried out during the early stages has a lesser chance of such cimplications, but infertility is a common complaint.
MYTH #2
Abortion is a painful process.
Fact: You'll be distinctly uncomfortable after a surgical abortion and may experience some cramping, but there are women who have reported severe pain as well. A medical abortion is said to be more painful in comparison to a surgical one. There is also the age factor -- younger women tend to find abortion more painful. It's important that you take care of yourself and report any feelings of discomfort and pain to your doctor.
MYTH #3
The foetus does not feel pain.
Fact: The short answer is -- it does. It is believed that, at some stage during the pregnancy, the foetus becomes capable of feeling pain, but when exactly this happens is not known. Some say that connections within the foetus' brain are necessary to perceive pain and these are not formed until the 28th week of pregnancy. Others believe that a foetus as seven weeks can feel pain. Thus, they believe that a foetus can feel pain part way through the first trimester -- when most abortions are performed.
MYTH #4
An abortion can be done anytime during the pregnancy.
Fact: It depends on the type of abortion you are engaging in. A Dilation and Curettage (D&C) abortion is done before 12 weeks development. Here, a tiny instrument is inserted into the womb, scrapes the wall of the uterus, cutting the baby's body into pieces. Body parts are then pulled out piece by piece through the cervix. The most common method is Suction Aspiration, where a plastic tube is inserted into the uterus, connected to a machine that works like a vacuum cleaner and this is to be done prior to 12 weeks as well. For later stages -- 24 weeks or so -- Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) is done. This is similar to D&C, except that larger parts of the baby are crushed. Other methods involve injecting, which could be done between 16 to 20 weeks into pregnancy.
MYTH #5
Abortion is dangerous, with a high risk of complications and death.
Fact: Abortion is one of the safest minor surgeries. The risk of dying from an abortion before nine weeks of pregnancy is remote. However, complications couls arise, depending on how the surgery is performed. An incomplete abprtion -- when a part of the pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus after the abortion procedure -- may cause an infection. Excessive bleeding can be caused by injury to the uterus during the abortion. If the physician scrapes too hard, the lower lining of the uterus can be removed.
MYTH #6
Abortion doesn't have any side effects.
Fact: This is isn't true. It's an unnatural process and may cause physical and emotional problems. Some women who have undergone an abortion may experience serious depression and massive feelings of guilt that may lead to having nightmares.
MYTH #7
Abortion causes weight loss.
Fact: It's not know to cause weight loss, but the entire process does make you lose your appetite. Some women are also unable to forgive themselves and the trauma results in weight loss. Others may lose weight due to vomitting, which is one of the side effects.
Labels: abortion, babies, depression, guilt, side effects, technologies, trauma
