Medical abortion in Ukraine

Medical abortion

According to the statistics of the Ministry of Health about 200000 women in Ukraine interrupt pregnancy every year: 60% of them because of an unwanted pregnancy and 40% for medical reasons. If we look at the world statistics, out of 193 countries of the world, abortions are completely banned only in 4. Abortion is considered a crime, both by the woman and the person who performs the abortion. Only 119 countries allow abortions in cases of social and medical indications. Seventy countries allow abortions at a woman's request, and Ukraine is one of them.

According to the WHO, only 61 countries provide medical abortion statistics. According to this data, 46 to 50 million women worldwide have abortions each year, and half of these abortions are performed in countries where abortions are prohibited due to unwanted pregnancies. It is in countries where abortion is illegal that the largest number of so-called illegal or criminal abortions are performed. All in all, about 70,000 women die from abortions worldwide and about 5 million have serious health problems.

If we take the period from the 1st day of menses to 12 weeks, this is the period that is officially allowed in Ukraine for abortions at the request of women. From the 12th week to the 22nd week, an abortion can only be performed for medical or social reasons, after the woman has undergone a commission and has received permission, a referral for an abortion.

According to the WHO, up to 10 weeks of pregnancy, a fetus is considered an embryo. Further up to 22 weeks is called a fetus, if the delivery occurs after 22 weeks, the fetus born is called a baby. This is why abortion after 22 weeks is prohibited in Ukraine, even for medical reasons.

Up to 12 weeks, an abortion is called an early abortion, and any doctor with experience in this area and working in an institution of the 2nd or 3rd level of accreditation can do it, if the woman wishes.

Medical termination of pregnancy when no more than 63 days have passed from the first day of menstruation. From 49 days to 63 days it will be done in a gynecological hospital.

Medical abortion is a safe and legal method with over 99% success rate. Medical abortion is one of the most effective and safe methods of abortion, but much depends on the age of the pregnancy. The longer it is, the higher the chances of failure during the procedure.

If you are more than nine weeks pregnant, you may need a surgical abortion.
Surgical abortion is a procedure performed under general anesthesia. To learn more about surgical abortion, contact your gynecologist, nurse or consult your UAmedTOURS manager.

If you decide to have a medical abortion, your doctor or nurse/nurse practitioner will discuss your abortion options with you and tell you where and when you can get blood tests and an ultrasound.

Ultrasounds are important because they help determine the stage of pregnancy. The most accurate way to do this is to insert a small scanner into your vagina. Sometimes this examination is done by scanning the abdomen.

Some people prefer not to have an ultrasound scan. If you do not want to do this, let your doctor know. However, it may affect the accuracy of determining the gestational age, the condition of the fetus, and as a result may lead to an ineffective abortion.

Blood tests check pregnancy hormone levels before and after the abortion to determine if the abortion was successful.

Blood tests are necessary not only to determine gestational age but also to diagnose the patient's health.

DENIAL OF MEDICAL ABORTION

There are a number of reasons why a pharmacological abortion can be denied:

• Inflammation or disease of the digestive, cardiovascular, or reproductive system.
• Ectopic pregnancy.
• Uterine scarring.
• Hormonal problems.
• Allergies to the drugs or ingredients used during an abortion.
• Use of hormonal contraceptives or an IUD in the last three months before conception.

Medical abortion may be denied for more than just medical reasons. It is also possible for a patient who is under age to be denied the procedure. In this case, she cannot make the decision to terminate the pregnancy on her own. This decision can be made by parents/parents, guardian or an institution that replaces them.

After taking all the necessary tests, the doctor must tell you about the abortion procedure, what pills you will be given and when, what sensations you may experience, how to relieve your condition and how the recovery process will proceed.

THE PROCESS OF MEDICAL ABORTION

Two medications are used for this type of abortion. Their names may vary depending on the country where the procedure is performed, but their algorithm of action remains the same.

*The first drug. The action of the first pill blocks the secretion of the hormone progesterone, which stops the development of pregnancy. At this stage, most people can go about their normal activities, but there may also be some discharge or bleeding.

*Second drug. It is taken 36 to 48 hours after the first one. It is needed to cause contraction and bleeding, which causes the uterus to empty.
In addition, your doctor may prescribe medication for nausea and painkillers to help you go through these stages in a more gentle way.

*We deliberately do not name the drugs used in medical abortion for the safety of patients and to avoid attempts to terminate a pregnancy on one's own without medical supervision.

FEELINGS DURING A MEDICAL ABORTION

For most women, painful sensations peak at the time the uterus contracts and the fetus comes out. On average, it takes 2 to 6 hours. The process of uterine contractions and emptying is accompanied by strong contractions and bleeding, and the release of clots of tissue and blood. Women interviewed noted that the sensations during medical abortion are different from normal periods and describe them as more painful. In addition, upset stomach, diarrhea, dizziness or mild fever may occur.

HOW TO RELIEVE THE PAIN OF A PHARMACOLOGICAL ABORTION

After taking the first and second abortion pills, the patient is given recommendations and guaranteed communication with the medical center 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Pills. Do not forget and do not neglect the use of nausea pills and painkillers, they really help to go through the pregnancy termination easier.
• Hot showers. Excellent for pain and cramps, relaxes and calms the body. You can also use a hot water bottle with warm water.
• Sleep and rest. Try in the days of abortion and up to 10 days after it to rest more, avoid physical and emotional stress. Sleeping helps your body to better cope with stress and survive what happened.
• Emotional support. In addition to physical factors, painful feelings during a pharmacological abortion can be influenced by emotional distress. If you feel bad and need support, seek help from loved ones or a psychological support center. Don't think that your emotional background doesn't affect how your body feels.

The discomfort of a pharmacological abortion can last from 24 hours to 10 days. Often, the patient will have heavy bleeding for five days, which gradually decreases over the next five days. There are cases where minor bloody discharge is present for up to four weeks.

HOW TO KNOW IF A MEDICAL ABORTION IS INCOMPLETE

Signs that a medical abortion has not gone well and you need to see your doctor:

• Bleeding has not started.
• Heavy bleeding persists for more than 5-7 days.
• Bloody discharge continues for more than a month.
• Lower abdominal pain.
• Pain when pressing on the abdomen.
• Severe dizziness, vomiting, loss of consciousness, fever.

How often does an abortion remain incomplete after a medical abortion?

You can verify that the abortion was successful by taking a pregnancy test. The earliest time for a negative result is one week after taking the pill. But to be sure that everything went well and the abortion is over, you should visit the hospital and take a blood test. This will help make sure that your pregnancy hormone levels are down. You should also have an ultrasound scan again. This will ensure that the fetus is out and you do not need surgery to remove it.

MEDICAL ABORTION IN UKRAINE

In Ukraine, conducting medical, vacuum and surgical abortions is absolutely legal. This allows the procedure to be carried out with maximum safety for the patient, her health and future possibility to have children.

Ukrainian clinics apply international quality standards for such procedures.  Their protocols and medical devices are used, i.e., pharmacological abortion is conducted with the use of European pills. Doctors conduct a detailed examination, and only after checking the permissible term of pregnancy and absence of contraindications, perform abortion.

Moreover, Ukrainian clinics strictly follow the principle of confidentiality and medical ethics. Personal information of the patient, his diagnosis and performed procedures are confidential and will not be disclosed.

The cost of medical abortion may vary depending on age, insurance coverage, and country of origin.

The cost of medical abortion in Ukraine starts at 70 euros. For more information on medical abortion in Ukraine, the best clinics and doctors, please contact the UAmedTOURS manager.

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to be a substitute for such advice or treatment by a personal physician. All readers of this material are advised to consult their own physicians or qualified health care professionals. UAmedTOURS is not responsible for the possible health consequences to any person or persons reading or following the information contained in this educational content. All readers of this content, especially those who take prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before making any changes in their diet, lifestyle, taking pills, or other facts that may affect your physical and psychological health.