An abortion is a procedure for terminating a pregnancy. Irrespective of the reasons behind an individual’s decision to go ahead with an elective abortion, it is important that one seeks professional help and a thorough medical consultation at a government-approved abortion clinic in Singapore prior to the procedure. This article will further discuss the options available to patients considering abortion in Singapore, the risks involved and how an experienced obstetrician and gynaecologist can help you navigate through your elective abortion safely.
How is an Abortion Performed: What to Expect?
An abortion can be carried out in two ways, and your medical practitioner will have a mandatory counseling session with you during your first visit to an MoH-approved abortion clinic in Singapore. Your doctor will assess your health conditions and discuss how the treatments are carried out, as well as the risks and benefits of each. It may be required that you visit the clinic at least twice: once for counseling, evaluation, examination, and medications; and another to confirm that the abortion was successful.
Medical Abortion
It is also known as the “pill abortion” because it uses a combination of medications to end a pregnancy. If you are within the first 9 weeks of your pregnancy, this is a viable method. First, you will take mifepristone orally, typically in your doctor’s office. Then, you will be given misoprostol to administer vaginally at home.
Surgical Abortion
A medical practitioner will use gentle suction to empty your uterus and this procedure is done at an approved abortion clinic or hospital. Depending on your gestational age, you will undergo one of the two surgical abortion procedures. For pregnancies up to 12-14 weeks, your doctor will use suction and aspiration to remove the embryo or fetus through your vagina. If you are 12 weeks or more pregnant, they will likely need to do dilation and evacuation to remove the tissues thoroughly.
Will Elective Abortion Cause Infertility?
There is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about elective abortion. There are socially and culturally based myths as well as medical fallacies such as abortions being painful for the fetus, putting the patient in a high-risk category for breast cancer, or being psychologically detrimental to the patient. The majority of patients considering elective abortion are frequently worried about one concern: if having an elective abortion will affect their future fertility or ability to bear offspring.
And the straightforward answer is that abortion seldom causes infertility.
If carried out under proper medical guidance and supervision, having an abortion won’t impair your ability to get pregnant and have healthy pregnancies in future. However, it must be noted that, as with any medical procedure, there are certain risks associated with abortion too.
Following an abortion, the majority of females will experience some of the following common side effects. These symptoms usually go away after a week or two, but they may also last longer.
- Bleeding and cramping that lasts an average of 14–21 days
- Dizziness or drowsiness
- Nausea/Vomiting
More complicated side effects, such as the ones below, require immediate medical attention.
- Heavy bleeding — soaking two or more pads an hour for two hours.
- Severe abdominal or back pain.
- Fever lasting more than 24 hours.
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
Elective Abortion, Associated Risks, and Future Infertility
Although, complications during an abortion are infrequent, the risk increases as the pregnancy advances. The following two complications, if left unresolved, can have an adverse effect on your future fertility.
Infection
Infection is a concern with every procedure, even abortion surgery. Following an abortion, an infection can spread throughout the pelvis and reproductive organs, causing abdominal or pelvic pain and fever. However, this is completely treatable with medication. If left untreated, there is a slight chance that it could result in pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which may increase your chances of having an ectopic pregnancy. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that you select a reputed clinic with an equally caring and responsible medical staff when you consider abortion in Singapore.
Asherman’s Syndrome
Asherman’s syndrome is an uncommon illness characterized by the formation of scar tissue, also known as adhesions or intrauterine adhesions, within the uterus. In a study conducted and published by the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, repeated abortions were identified as one of the main risk factors for Asherman’s Syndrome. Hence, it is necessary that when you opt for elective surgical abortion, you consult a reputed abortion clinic in Singapore. They will ensure that no damage or scarring is done to your cervix or the uterine wall thereby preserving your chance of embracing motherhood whenever you are ready to build a family.
Seng’s OG Practice: Abortion Clinic Singapore
With over 20 years of trusted medical excellence, our obstetrician and gynecologist, Dr. Seng, is able to support you throughout this challenging process of elective abortion. As an MoH-approved abortion clinic in Singapore, at Seng’s OG Practice, we ensure maximum patient privacy, confidentiality, safety, and comfort. Our in-house counsellors are able to walk you through the full process of abortion and help you make well-informed decisions. When you choose Seng’s OG Practice, we make sure that you get all the support you deserve emotionally, mentally, and medically. Contact us today to schedule a private consultation.