After Yolanda left the abortion clinic, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. Her abdomen ached and she felt weak, but she ignored it and assumed that she would go away in a few days.
The problem was that she didn’t disappear. She got worse.
After 5 days, she went to see her doctor, who ordered a sonogram. To her surprise, the technician discovered that there was still quite a bit of pregnancy tissue left in her uterus.
Yolanda had an incomplete abortion.
The partial remains of the pregnancy had caused an infection in her uterus. If she hadn’t gone to see her doctor, the results could have been fatal.
What is an Incomplete Abortion?
Like Yolanda’s experience, an incomplete abortion occurs when part of the pregnancy remains after an abortion. This may include the placenta and other fetal tissues.
The National Library of Medicine defines it as “the partial loss of the products of conception within the first 20 weeks.”
What causes an incomplete abortion?
An incomplete abortion can occur with both a surgical abortion and a chemical abortion. It can also occur with a natural miscarriage.
It occurs with a surgical abortion when the provider is unable to remove all of the tissue with instruments.
It occurs with a chemical abortion and a miscarriage when your body does not naturally expel the entire baby from the uterus.
According to the National Library of Medicine, “about 50 percent of incomplete abortions are the result of a chromosomal abnormality. Other cases are due to modifiable etiologies and risk factors such as age, maternal diseases (diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, thyroid problem, polycystic ovary syndrome, lupus, thrombophilia), being underweight or overweight, uterine abnormalities, exposure to teratogens (drugs , alcohol, caffeine, radiation) and infections (human immunodeficiency virus, sexually transmitted infections, Listeria monocytogenes). Consequently, some of the modifiable etiologies or risk factors may result in congenital anomalies, which may cause incomplete abortion.
What are the symptoms of an incomplete abortion?
- If you have an incomplete abortion, you may experience any of the following symptoms:
- Heavy bleeding lasting more than three weeks
- blood clots
- Severe pain and cramps, as if your body is trying to go into a labor process
- Discomfort when you press your belly.
- High fever which may indicate an infection.
- low back pain
How is an incomplete abortion treated?
Most women will pass naturally for the remainder of the pregnancy. Some doctors will prescribe mifepristone to create contractions that will force the body to expel the rest of the pregnancy.
The amounts of blood lost should be monitored in case a transfusion is necessary. Beta-hCG levels during pregnancy will also need to be checked repeatedly.
Also, if an infection starts to develop, surgery may be required to remove the rest of the pregnancy tissue.
¿Where can i get more information?
If you think you may be pregnant but aren’t sure, we can schedule a free sonogram and pregnancy test for you at our clinic. We are also here to listen and answer any questions you may have about abortion, miscarriage, pregnancy, and more. Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential consultation.