Women's Risks and Psychological Impacts after Opting Abortion - Research Paper Example

Disclosure of information on potential risks before abortion The issue of abortion has always been an emotive and sensitive subject. No one wants to talk about it, even in this generation. Perhaps, the sensitivity of this issue is occasioned by the definition of life and its sanctity. The decision on whether to let life be or terminate it is therefore one not to jump into. Abortion is defined as the termination, by a willing party, of the pregnancy before the fetus can live independently. Since it involves issues to do with morality, abortion has received widespread criticism especially from religious leaders. It has also received support in equal measure, especially when the abortion is medically prescribed. Abortion involves risks that may have complications on the pregnant woman and her ability to bear children in future (Gordon, pp 53). Disclosure of all the information on risks involved is therefore important before a woman decides whether to abort or not. The risks information disclosed to a woman influences the decision taken on abortion. Over human history, there is evidence to show that women have chosen to limit their childbirths through termination. The risks of abortion, however exaggerated, do not surpass the imminent risks and complications of childbirth. This is not a justification for abortion, however, because it involves life threatening risks as well. Moreover, most of the pregnancies in the world are unintended and not planned for. In the US, nearly half of the pregnancies are not planned for. Half of these pregnancies end up being terminated through abortions. Women of all walks of life and from diverse origins have continued to opt for termination to end the unintended pregnancies (Kimport, pp 26). What this means is that abortion is not an isolated case of a specific region or a reserve for specific women groups. From the Tropic of Cancer all the way to the Tropic of Capricorn, women have always chosen this path. About 20 out of every sampled 1000 women had induced abortions between the ages of fifteen to forty four. This statistics can also be expressed as a fraction of live births. In 1997, for example, the ratio was 306 abortions per 1000 live births. It is important to note that this ratio did not include spontaneous abortions, otherwise called miscarriages. The decision to abort is sometimes brought about by the urgency of other dysfunctional birth control measures. About 43% of the women at the age of forty five have had at least one abortion before reaching that age (Quinley, pp 6). Even women that have had children before still find themselves having to choose termination. A study in the US showed that more than half of the women that have had abortions have more than one child prior to the abortion. This results show that the decision on whether to abort or not is not based on just one factor but an interplay of many factors. The likelihood of a woman to have an abortion can, therefore, not be predicted based on such factors as age, number of children, or even history of abortion (Gordon, pp 79). The decision is primarily confined to the interplay of circumstances facing the woman at that given time. A begging question is, why do women have abortions? This question has no specific answer since every woman has distinct reasons for choosing to go that way. Some of the women choose abortion simply because they think it is not the right time to sire babies. Others feel that they are not in a good relationship with their partners at the time of conception. Others still feel that they cannot undergo the stress of parenthood because they are occupied elsewhere. For example students and workers may feel that they have no time for child birth. Others also terminate pregnancies that are a result of rape for example. In the US, abortion was legalized in 1973 (Forsythe, pp 42). Medically, abortions are considered safest when the pregnancy is between the first six to ten weeks. At this stage, it is very rare for one to get any complication. Termination of pregnancies between 13 and 24 weeks is highly risky and the chances of getting complications are very high. Abortions past 24 weeks a rarely done and pose an acute risk of complications and death of the mother (Faure, pp 67). They are, therefore, restricted to instances where the mother faces a life threatening risk. Most of the abortions are performed during the second trimester. This is because genetic tests to ascertain pregnancies cannot be done before ten weeks. Another reason is that teens are not able to recognize pregnancies until after a certain period due to inexperience. There are two types of abortions: therapeutic and elective abortions. The former one is prescribed by a doctor in case of a health or death risk to the pregnant mother. A healthcare provider may also recommend a therapeutic abortion where the unborn child has significant abnormalities and when it is not expected to live. The latter, elective abortion, is one in which the pregnant woman chooses to terminate the pregnancy at her own volition. Normally, most abortions in the streets of major cities are elective as therapeutic abortions are restricted to major health facilities. Abortions could be performed through taking oral medicine that makes the uterus expel the fetus. It can also be done through the surgical removal of the fetus in which case the pregnant woman is taken to theater. All the types of abortions, no matter the stage of pregnancy in which they are performed pose a potential risk to the life of the pregnant woman. It is important that the pregnant woman is aptly notified of the risks of each abortion procedure before making a choice of the method or even whether to terminate the pregnancy. By the year 2003, there were two available drugs used in the US to induce abortions – methotrexate and mifepristone. While methotrexate works targets the fetal cells preventing their further development, mifepristone functions by blocking the action of progesterone. Both drugs can be taken upto the 49th day since the last menstrual period. These drugs are however not recommended for women with, inflammatory bowel disease, liver or kidney disease, clotting disorders, certain blood disorders or documented immunodeficiency. This information, if not notified to the pregnant woman may cause adverse complications on the woman’s part. Another option is surgical abortions which include procedures such as manual vacuum aspiration, dilatation and suction curettage, and dilatation and evacuation. Manual vacuum aspiration also referred to as menstrual extraction can be performed within the ten weeks of gestation. It involves the suction of the contents in the uterus using a thin tube inserted via the cervix. A syringe is used for suction and may last for about 15 minutes. One complication associated with MVA (Manual Vacuum Aspiration) is incomplete abortions. Dilation and Suction Curettage (D&C) involves the stretching of the cervical walls using dilators. The uterine contents are expelled using a tube that is connected to a sucking machine. The walls are thereafter cleaned using a curette. The procedure involves surgery and therefore infections may occur. Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) is almost the same as D&C only that a large tube must be used to remove more materials. Cervical dilation is increased thus causing more discomfort to the woman. The baby is then removed by both suction and physical extraction (Kimport, pp 57). Regardless of the choice of abortion procedure, certain preparations must be made by the doctor prior to the termination process. Of great importance is the determination of the stage of the pregnancy. The woman should also be counseled way before the procedure is done on her, preferably 24 hours earlier. Mostly, parental consent is required in cases where the patient is under the age of eighteen. After the abortion, the woman is observed and monitored keenly to regulate both the blood pressure and bleeding. Quite often, antibiotics may be prescribed to reduce the chances of infection. Follow up visits are also recommended after the procedure to ensure the woman’s health has stabilized. Women who do not go for aftercare risk the chance of excessive bleeding, infection, blood clots in the uterus, missed abortions, and incomplete abortions. These women may also suffer complications such as severe pain, foul vaginal discharge, and uterus and cervix tearing. Other serious complications include spontaneous abortions whereby a woman cannot sustain a pregnancy to its full term, infertility and ectopic pregnancies. Birth defects may also be observed in future pregnancies or underweight deliveries (Bennett, pp 37). There are more serious complications resulting from abortions that are not out rightly visible to the people instantly. Abortion has been known to cause posttraumatic stress disorder in women that undergo the procedure. At least 15 % of the women who undergo abortions end up getting posttraumatic stress disorder (PSD). This ratio can be attributed to the traumatic experience that is the termination procedure. Immediate reactions of PSD victims are acute anxiety, dissociation, panic and anxiety all of which are symptoms of the disorder. Upon termination of pregnancies, some women may become defensive to emotions and maternal cognitions (Rousset, pp 19). Therefore, although most women terminate their pregnancies with an intention of ending stress, they end up up acquiring more stress from such disorders as PSD. Different countries have different regulations on abortion ranging from legality and illegality. In countries where abortion is legalized, it is easy to find safe abortions provided by qualified health workers. In nations that have criminalized the practice, abortions are conducted in secret by quack doctors. The result is that more and more women are exposed to the risk of contracting post-abortion complications due to lack of good health care services. Unsafe abortions are the cause of increased complications such as maternal deaths and compromised fertility to the woman. The World Health Organization approximates that 13% of the total maternal deaths are as a result of unsafe abortions (Rousset, pp 17). Despite the availability of all this information on the complications of abortions, it is estimated that most women have no regard for it when making the decision of whether to terminate the pregnancy or not. Perhaps this can be attributed to the fact that most of these women are under so much pressure that thinking in the right way is curtailed (Forsythe, pp 83). It is the responsibility of the practicing doctors to counsel the pregnant women so that they don’t end up making rush decisions. Moreover, most of the complications associated with abortions are as a result of ignorance rather than a lack of knowledge. It is advised that women who are pregnant be treated gently and talked to about the dangers and risks of having abortions. In particular, women should be dissuaded from having abortions in street hospitals where the professional expertise of the practioners is questionable. Legalization of abortion in countries where the practice is criminalized could be an option (Stotland, pp 128). With the discussion still at hand, the world needs to ask itself if it has any options to the menace of corruption. Yes, the world is not short of options, but are the people ready to consider the options. A major debate has been in the public domain over time concerning the option of adoption in dealing with the risks of abortion. Most aborted pregnancies are as a result of unintended and unplanned for conceptions (Crum, pp 81). The world would be better off if pregnant women considered keeping the pregnancies and then offering the babies for abortions. There are so many women that cannot conceive children but would openly welcome the option of adoption. This remedy would be hitting two birds using a single stone as the positive results would be dual. Works Cited Bennett, Trude, and Dennie Nadeau. "Abortion." Child Development. Ed. Neil J. Salkind. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. 1-3. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. Crum, Gary, and Thelma McCormack. Abortion: Pro-choice or Pro-Life?Washington, D.C: American University Press, 1991. Print. Faure, S., and H. Loxton. "Anxiety, Depression And Self-Efficacy Levels Of Women Undergoing First Trimester Abortion." South African Journal Of Psychology 33.1 (2003): 28. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. Forsythe, Clarke D. "Psychological Risks Of Abortion." Nutrition Health Review: The Consumer's Medical Journal 110 (2014): 8. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. Gordon, Debra, et al. "Abortion." The Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health. Ed. Laurie J. Fundukian. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2013. 2-6. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. Gordon, Debra, Stephanie Dionne Sherk, and Laura Jean Cataldo. "Abortion, Induced." The Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery and Medical Tests. Ed. Brigham Narins. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2009. 14-20. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. Kimport, Katrina, Kira Foster, and Tracy A. Weitz. "Social Sources Of Women's Emotional Difficulty After Abortion: Lessons From Women's Abortion Narratives." Perspectives On Sexual & Reproductive Health 43.2 (2011): 103-109. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. Quinley, Kelly E., Sarah J. Ratcliffe, and Courtney A. Schreiber. "Psychological Coping In The Immediate Post-Abortion Period." Journal Of Women's Health (15409996) 23.1 (2014): 44-50. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. Rousset, C., et al. "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder And Psychological Distress Following Medical And Surgical Abortion." Journal Of Reproductive & Infant Psychology 29.5 (2011): 506-517. Academic Search Premier. Web. 1 Apr. 2015. Stotland, Nada L. Abortion: Facts and Feelings : a Handbook for Women and the People Who Care About Them. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press, 1998. Print. Read More