Explanation of the abortion methods by Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
What if the abortion procedure? - JAOG
This is my personal translation from original Japanese version.
Question: What is the abortion procedure?
Answer: There is a big difference between early pregnancy (less than 12 weeks) and pregnancy from 12 to 22 weeks. There is a big difference in the abortion procedures and the subsequent proceedings.
An abortion is performed when the Maternal Body Protection Law applies, and when the pregnancy must be terminated. The procedures differ between early termination (less than 12 weeks) and later termination.
In early termination (less than 12 weeks), the uterine contents are removed by curettage (scraping out the contents) or aspiration (sucking them out with an instrument). In most cases, the contents of the uterus are removed instrumentally under intravenous anesthesia after dilating the uterine opening beforehand. The procedure usually takes only 10 to 15 minutes, with minimal pain and bleeding, and if there are no physical problems, the patient can go home on the same day.
For pregnancies of 12 to 22 weeks, the cervix is dilated in advance, and uterine constrictors *1 are used to artificially induce contractions that cause a miscarriage. Although it varies from person to person, the procedure is physically demanding and usually requires several days of hospitalization. If the abortion is performed after 12 weeks of pregnancy, it is necessary to report the stillbirth to the local government office and obtain a permit for the burial of the aborted fetus.
Most abortions are not covered by health insurance. For abortions performed after 12 weeks of gestation, the financial burden is greater due to the cost of hospitalization as well as the surgical fee. Therefore, if you must choose to have an abortion, it is better to make the decision as early as possible to minimize the various burdens.
Since only "designated doctors" designated by the Maternal Body Protection Law are allowed to perform abortion surgeries, you should undergo the procedure at a medical institution that has a doctor who is designated by the Maternal Body Protection Law. While some foreign countries have marketed early pregnancy abortion pills, they are currently not approved in Japan. There have been reports of heavy bleeding, and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has issued a warning.
- Adapted from "Adolescent Gynecological Consultation Manual for School Doctors and School Teachers.
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*1:gemeprost vaginal pessaries
