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What is a Complete Abortion?

By Christina Edwards
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 19,258
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A complete abortion occurs when all of the products of a pregnancy have been removed. A check up after an abortion or a miscarriage is important to ensure that it is complete and there are no remnants of the pregnancy left. An incomplete abortion could result in a serious infection.

An abortion involves removing all of the products of a pregnancy, or conception. These products include fetal tissue, which is usually pinkish gray, as well as blood, or blood clots. On average, most women will experience mild to heavy vaginal bleeding anywhere from one to three weeks after a complete abortion. Hemorrhaging, on the other hand, is often associated with an incomplete abortion, and it is considered very dangerous.

Risks of an incomplete abortion increase drastically after the fetus has grown to be 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) or more. This usually occurs roughly two or three months into the pregnancy. At this stage, pieces of fetal tissue that are too big to pass out of the cervix and out of the body can get trapped inside the uterus, preventing a complete abortion.

Infection after an incomplete abortion is often a result of pieces of fetal tissue stuck in the uterus, and many times it will be accompanied by a high fever and severe bleeding. Hemorrhaging after an abortion occurs when the bleeding soaks through more than one sanitary pad in an hour, and it is one sign that something went wrong during the procedure. Pelvic pain and severe cramps are another sign of an incomplete abortion.

Two to three weeks after a medical or spontaneous abortion, a woman is strongly advised to go to a gynecologist for a checkup. During this appointment, the doctor will usually look for any signs of infection, including inflammation of the cervix or uterus. He will also check to ensure that the cervix is closed. An ultrasound may also be necessary to check to see if any products of a pregnancy remain in the mother's uterus.

Ensuring that a complete abortion took place is considered very important. An infection that can result may lead to serious medical complications, such as sterility or even death. Immediate medical treatment is often necessary to prevent these complications.

To complete abortion procedures, doctors often perform something known as a dilation and curettage. During this procedure, the cervix is dilated. A doctor then scrapes the inside of the uterus to remove any remaining products of a pregnancy.

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Discussion Comments
By cristopher — On Sep 03, 2016

Abortion is to terminate your pregnancy intentionally. It can be executed in two ways: surgical abortion and medical abortion. Surgical abortion is done by expert doctors. Medical abortion is done by pills like MTP Kit, RU486, Mifeprisone-Misoprostol, Mifeprex-Mifepristone, cytotec are the best early abortion pills.

By pastanaga — On Mar 27, 2013

@browncoat - I just don't think that a fetus can count as life. It can't exist on its own. It's only a small bundle of cells. As it says in the article, it's smaller than a peanut at the optimum time for an abortion. It doesn't have a brain and it doesn't feel pain. Most pregnancies miscarry before this and no one notices (because it just seems like a regular period).

On the other hand, babies are life. They are real little people who can feel pain. I just don't think it's right to let one of those come into the world unless it's truly wanted.

Safe, legal abortions should be available to everyone who wants or needs them. It shouldn't even be an issue.

By browncoat — On Mar 26, 2013
@MrsPramm - I don't think it should be done unless the mother's health is in danger. In that case, yes, an abortion is the logical thing to do and it should be done safely and completely. But all the abortion facts should be available to women who are thinking about it.
By MrsPramm — On Mar 26, 2013

I can't even imagine how scary it must be for the women in the world without access to this kind of medical treatment, because they basically never have a complete abortion. They are forced to go to back-alley abortionists to get it done and they often die from it, because of infection or hemorrhage.

I'm not a huge fan of abortion, but I know that women, especially young women, who are desperate for whatever reason to get rid of a pregnancy, will do whatever it takes. I'd rather that their lives were saved by allowing them to have safe, legal surgical abortions.

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