What’s the difference between medical abortion and surgical abortion?

Lydia Mainey, CQUniversity Australia

In Australia, around one in four people who are able to get pregnant will have a medical or surgical abortion in their lifetime.

Both options are safe, legal and effective. The choice between them usually comes down to personal preference and availability.

So, what’s the difference?

What is a medical abortion?

A medical abortion involves taking two types of tablets, sold together in Australia as MS2Step.

The first tablet, mifepristone, stops the hormone progesterone, which is needed for pregnancy. This causes the lining of the uterus to break down and stops the embryo from growing.

After taking mifepristone, you wait 36–48 hours before taking the second tablet, misoprostol. Misoprostol makes the cervix (the opening of the uterus) softer and starts contractions to expel the pregnancy.

It’s normal to have strong pain and heavy bleeding with clots after taking misoprostol. Pain relief including ibuprofen and paracetamol can help.

After two to six hours, the bleeding and pain usually become like a normal period, although this may last between two to six weeks.

Haemorrhage after a medical abortion is rare (occurring in fewer than 1% of abortions). But you should seek help if bleeding remains heavy (if you soak two pads per hour for two consecutive hours) or if you have have signs of infection (such as a fever, increasing abdominal pain or smelly vaginal discharge).

Do I have to go to hospital?

It is legal to have a medical abortion outside of a hospital up to nine weeks of pregnancy.

Depending on state or territory law, the medication can be prescribed by a qualified health-care provider such as a GP, nurse practitioner or endorsed midwife. These clinicians often work in GP surgeries or sexual and reproductive health clinics and they may use telehealth.

Medical abortions also occur after nine weeks of pregnancy, but these are done in hospitals and overseen by doctors alongside nurses or midwives.

Medical abortions after 20 weeks are done by taking medications to start early labour in a maternity unit. Often, medications are first given to stop the foetal heartbeat so it is not born alive. Then, other medications are given to manage pain.

These types of abortions are very rare. They may be used when an obstacle has prevented someone accessing an abortion earlier, continuing with the pregnancy is dangerous for the pregnant person’s health or if there is a serious problem with the foetus.

What is a surgical abortion?

Surgical abortions are performed in an operating unit, usually with sedation, so you will not remember the procedure. Surgical abortions are sometimes preferred over medical abortions because they are quicker. But the decision should be between you and your health-care provider.

In the first 12–14 weeks of pregnancy, a surgical abortion takes less than 15 minutes and patients are usually discharged a few hours after the procedure.

Medications may be given before surgery to soften and open the cervix and to ease pain. During the procedure, the cervix is gently stretched open and the contents of the uterus are removed with a small tube. This procedure is carried out by trained doctors with the assistance of nurses.

Surgical abortions after 12–14 weeks are more complex and are performed by specially trained doctors. Similar to medical abortions, medications may be given first to stop the foetal heartbeat.

It is normal to experience some cramping and bleeding after a surgical abortion, which can last about two weeks. However, like medical abortion, you should seek help for heavy bleeding or signs of infection.

Do I need an ultrasound?

It used to be common before an abortion to have an ultrasound scan to check how far along the pregnancy was and to make sure it was not ectopic (outside the uterus).

However, this is no longer recommended in the early stages of pregnancy (up to 14 weeks) if it delays access to abortion. If the date of the last menstrual period is known and there are no other concerning symptoms, an ultrasound scan may not be necessary.

This means people can access medical abortion much sooner, even from the first day of a missed period, without waiting for the embryo to be big enough to be seen on an ultrasound scan. This is called “very early medical abortion”.

Before and after care

Before having an abortion, a health-care provider will explain common side effects and when to seek urgent medical attention. For people who want it, many types of contraception can be started the day of abortion.

Even though the success rate of medical abortion is very high (over 95%) it is routine to make sure the person is no longer pregnant.

This is usually done two to three weeks after taking the first tablet mifepristone, either by a low-sensitivity urine pregnancy test (which you can do at home) or a blood test.

In the rare case a medical abortion has not worked, a surgical abortion can be done.

Sometimes after a medical or surgical abortion, tissue is left behind in the uterus. If this happens you may need another dose of misoprostol (the second tablet) or a surgical procedure to remove the tissue.

Some people may also seek support-based counselling or peer support to help them work through the emotions that might accompany having an abortion.

Understanding the differences and similarities between medical and surgical abortions can help individuals make informed decisions about their reproductive health.

It’s important to speak with an unbiased health-care provider to discuss the best option for your circumstances and to ensure you receive the necessary follow-up care and support.

Lydia Mainey, Senior Nursing Lecturer, CQUniversity Australia

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........→March 11, 2025

Naturopathic

Tips For More Healthy: Some see the ancient Greek "Father of Medicine", Hippocrates, first as a defender of naturopathic medicine, before the term existed. Modern practice of naturopathy is rooted in Nature Cure movement of Europe during the 19th century. In Scotland, Thomas Allinson started advocating his "Hygienic Medicine" in the 1880s, promoting a natural diet and exercise to avoid tobacco and overwork. Sanipractor This term is sometimes used to refer to naturopaths, particularly in the Pacific Northwest United States. Naturopathic Medicine or Naturopathy is a form of alternative medicine based on trust vitalism, which states that a special energy called a vital energy or vital force guides the body such as metabolism, reproduction, growth, and adaptation. Naturopathic philosophy favors a holistic approach, and, like conventional medicine seeks to find a minimally invasive measures are necessary for symptomatic improvement or resolution, thereby encouraging the use of minimal surgery and drugs are not necessary. According to the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges, "Naturopathic medicine is defined by principles rather than by the methods or modalities. Above all, respect the body's innate wisdom to heal." According to the American Cancer Society, "Available scientific evidence does not support the claim that naturopathic medicine can cure cancer or other diseases, because almost no studies on naturopathy as a whole has been published." The "naturopathy" to translate the term comes from Greek and Latin, and literally as "nature disease." Modern naturopathy grew out of the Nature Cure movement in Europe. The term was coined in 1895 by John Scheel, and popularized by Benedict Lust, "Father of U.S. naturopathy". Beginning in the 1970s, there is resurgence of interest in the United States and Canada in conjunction with holistic health movement. Naturopathic practitioners are divided into two groups, traditional naturopaths and naturopathic physicians. Naturopathic doctors use the principles of naturopathy in the context of conventional medical practice. Naturopathy consists of different treatment modalities of various levels of acceptance by the conventional medical community; these treatments range from the standard of evidence-based care, for homeopathy and other practices are sometimes characterized as pseudoscience. Naturopathy is practiced in many countries, especially the United States and Canada, and subject to different regulatory standards and levels of acceptance. The scope of practice varies widely between jurisdictions, and naturopaths in unregulated jurisdictions may use designation of Naturopathic Doctor or other title without the level of education. Philosophical foundations and methodological naturopathic sometimes at odds with the paradigm of evidence-based medicine (EBM). Many naturopaths oppose vaccination in part based on the philosophy that forms the beginning of the profession. The term naturopathy was coined in 1895 by John Scheel, and purchased by Benedict Lust, "Father of U.S. naturopathy". Lust has been educated in hydrotherapy and natural health practices in Germany by Father Sebastian Kneipp; Kneipp Lust shipped to the United States to deploy its drugless methods. Lust naturopathy is defined as a broad discipline rather than a specific method, and includes techniques such as hydrotherapy, herbal medicine, and homeopathy, as well as eliminating overeating,
tea, coffee, and alcohol. He described the body as a spiritual and vitalistic with "absolute dependence on the cosmic forces of human nature." In 1901, Lust founded the American School of Naturopathy in New York. In 1902, the original North American Society Kneipp discontinued and renamed "naturopathic community". In September 1919 Naturopathic Society of America was dissolved, and Dr. Benedict Lust founded the "American Association of Naturopathic" to replace it. Naturopaths to be licensed naturopathic or drugless practitioner of law in 25 states in the first three decades of the twentieth century. Naturopathy adopted by many chiropractors, and some schools offered both (DC) Doctor of Naturopathy (ND) and Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Estimated number of active naturopathic schools in the United States during this period varies from about one to two dozen.  After a period of rapid growth, naturopathy went into decline for several decades after the 1930's. In 1910, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching published the Flexner Report, which criticized many aspects of medical education, particularly quality and lack of scientific rigor. The advent of penicillin and other "miracle cures" and popularity due to modern medicine also contributed to the decline of naturopathy's. In the 1940s and 1950s, expanding the legal scope of chiropractic practice led many schools to drop their ND degree, although many chiropractors continue to practice naturopathy. From 1940 to 1963, the American Medical Association campaigned against heterodox medical system. In 1958, the practice of naturopathy is licensed only five countries. In 1968, the United States Department of Health, Education, and Welfare issued a report on naturopathy concludes that naturopathy is not based on science of naturopathic medicine and that education is not enough to prepare graduates to make the right diagnosis and provide treatment; a report recommending against the expansion of Medicare coverage for include naturopathic medicine. In 1977, an Australian inquiry committee reached the same conclusion, but does not recommend licensing for naturopaths. In 2009, fifteen fifty U.S. states, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia licensed naturopathic physician, and two states (WA, VT) requires insurers to provide reimbursement for services provided by naturopathic physicians. Naturopathy never really ceased to exist. Beginning in the 1970s, the wax flowers in the United States and Canada in conjunction with holistic health movement. Today, there are nine schools that offer certificates or Traditional naturopathy degree programs accredited by the American Board of Naturopathic Medical Accredation National Board of Naturopathic Examiners of ANA currently recognizes two schools that offer programs Naturopathy Doctorate Degree Represented by six naturopathic medical schools accredited naturopathic medicine and a candidate for accreditation in North America. In 1956, Charles Stone, Frank Spaulding, and W. Martin Bleything founded the National College of Natural (NCNM) in Portland, Oregon in response to plans by the Western States Chiropractic College to drop the course ND. In 1978, Sheila Quinn, Joseph Pizzorno, William Mitchell, and Les Griffith founded John Bastyr College of Naturopathic Medicine (now Bastyr University) in Seattle, Washington. In the same year, the Canadian College Naturopathic Medicine was founded in Toronto, Canada. Recently founded the school, including Southwest College Naturopathic Medicine, established in 1992, and the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine, also founded in 1992. The University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, ND grant degrees through the College of Naturopathic Medicine, and National University of Health Sciences in Illinois recently developed naturopathic programs
and is currently a candidate for accreditation.Naturopathic ideology focuses on substances that occur naturally, minimally invasive method, and the encouragement of natural healing. Naturopaths generally supports an intuitive and vitalistic concept of the body, and a complete rejection of modern biomedical science and the public. Stress reduction and prevention through a healthy diet and lifestyle are very stressed, and pharmaceutical drugs, ionizing radiation, and surgery is generally minimized. The philosophy of naturopathic practice is self-described by six core values. Several versions exist in the form of the naturopathic doctor's oath, the various missions issued by the school or professional association, ethical behavior and guidelines issued by regulatory agencies: * First, do no harm, providing the most effective health care is available with minimal risk to patients at all times (non nocere quaeritur).* Recognizing, respecting and promoting self-healing power of nature inherent in every human individual. (Vis Naturae medicatrix, a form of vitalism). * Identify and remove the causes of disease, rather than eliminate or suppress symptoms (Tolle Causum). * Educate, inspire rational hope and encourage self-responsibility for health (doctor as teacher). * Treat each person by considering all individual health factors and influences. (Treat the Whole Person). * Emphasize health condition to improve the well-being and prevent illness for the individual, every society and our world. (Health Promotion, the Best Prevention) * Naturopaths use a variety of treatment modalities, with a focus on natural healing itself rather than any specific method. Some methods depend on the material "vital energy field", the existence of which has not been proven, and there are concerns that naturopathy as the field tends toward isolation from the general scholarly discourse. The effectiveness of naturopathy as a whole system has not been systematically evaluated, and the efficacy of individual methods used vary. A consultation usually begins with a lengthy interview patients to focus on lifestyle, medical history, emotional tone, and physical characteristics, and physical examination. The traditional naturopath focuses on lifestyle changes and approaches that support the body's innate healing potential. Traditional naturopaths do not attempt to diagnose or treat illness but to concentrate on the health of the entire body and facilitate the body's own healing. Traditional Naturopaths do not prescribe or attempt to engage in the use of drugs, serum, potion, surgery or treatment of certain diseases or the practice of conventional medicine. Naturopathic medicine practitioners resist the urge to become a major service provider and in addition to various natural approaches attempt to prescribe legend drugs, perform minor operations and implement other approaches to conventional medical practice them. Naturopaths do not always recommend the vaccine and antibiotics, and can provide alternative solutions that are not appropriate even in cases in which evidence-based medicine has been proven effective. All forms of naturopathic education includes the concept does not correspond to basic science, and not have to prepare the practitioner to make a correct diagnosis or referral. Source: Tips For More Healthy: Naturopathic

Read More........→April 18, 2012