The 13 types of abortion (and their psychological and physical effects)

The development of a fetus or embryo can be interrupted by many circumstances.

Having children is for many people one of their life goals, with many couples actively and voluntarily seeking pregnancy. However, it is possible However, it is possible that this development may be impaired or may have to be interrupted for various reasons. In addition, in other cases unwanted pregnancies occur in which the person in question does not wish to become a mother, does not have the resources, does not yet feel ready or is the product of rape.

In some of these cases the person in question may choose to terminate the pregnancy. There may be many circumstances and reasons that may lead to the decision to abort or to undergo an abortion. That is why we can determine the existence of different types of abortion depending on the characteristics surrounding it.

What does the concept of abortion imply?

In order to talk about the different types of abortion that exist, it is first necessary to understand what we mean by the term abortion.

Abortion is understood as the process by which the gestation of an embryo is interrupted for various reasons. for different reasons. The pregnancy is terminated abruptly and the fetus dies and is expelled from the pregnant woman's body.

There are a large number of causes of miscarriage, both natural and human-induced. Thus, we can find cases of desired pregnancies that fail for some reason or situations in which an unintended pregnancy occurs and the person in question does not want to continue.

When it is natural, it generally occurs at twelve to fourteen weeks, that is, before the third month of gestation. In cases of voluntary abortion, the deadlines may vary according to the law in force in each country and the assumptions and circumstances surrounding the pregnancy and the decision to terminate it.

Types of abortion

It is possible to make a classification of different types of abortion according to different criteriaIt is possible to classify different types of abortion according to different criteria, such as whether it is natural or induced, the mechanisms used to terminate the pregnancy or the reasons that cause it to be performed.

1. Spontaneous abortion

Spontaneous abortion is the name given to that type of abortion or interruption of pregnancy due to natural causes, not being voluntary or induced. It may be due to chromosomal alterations of the fetus, diseases or malformations of the mother, infections (as in septic abortion). The onset of this type of abortion usually occurs in the first twelve weeks.

When is very early, so that we are not yet dealing with a fetus but with an embryo. but an embryo, there may be no symptoms and even the fact of having become pregnant may go unnoticed (it is estimated that a large number of pregnancies end undetected in this way).

However, if the detachment or death of the fetus occurs during the development of the fetus, it usually appears together with significant bleeding and pain in the uterus, which opens to make way for the remains. In some cases the remains of the fetus are not completely expelled (especially if they are late miscarriages), in which case an intervention will be necessary.

2. Infectious or septic miscarriage

This is a subtype of miscarriage in which an infection is generated that affects the placenta or the fetus and ends with the death of the fetus. It is also called the result of an abortion in which the female reproductive system is infected by the presence of remnants of an abortion or by injuries resulting from the performance of an abortion.

3. Missed or missed abortion

This is a type of miscarriage in which for some reason the fetus in gestation dies naturally, but remains in the mother's uterus for weeks without being expelled from the woman's body. The pregnant woman continues to believe she is pregnant and has the typical symptoms, but the pregnant woman's heart has stopped beating. It can only be detected by ultrasound. After detection, if the body does not expel the fetus or does not expel it completely, it will be necessary to intervene with drugs or surgically.

4. Induced abortion

This is a voluntarily induced abortion, that is to say the result of applying certain procedures voluntarily to terminate the pregnancy. to terminate the pregnancy. Within the latter, there may be others such as therapeutic abortion, those resulting from rape or those that are freely decided.

5. Therapeutic abortion

A therapeutic abortion is one that is performed under the assumption that the pregnancy poses a risk to the health and even the survival of the mother. It is also called therapeutic abortion those abortions that are performed in the presence of serious alterations or diseases of the fetus that make its survival or normative development impossible.

6. Legal abortion

In reference to voluntary abortions, a legal abortion is considered to be one that can be performed according to the legislation in force. Although abortion was originally only legal in cases of rape, severe malformations or risk to the life of the pregnant woman, nowadays in many countries abortion can be legally performed without the need to meet these conditions (although within a specific time frame that varies according to the region).

In Spain, abortion is free up to fourteen weeks, after which it may only be legally terminated in cases of risk to the life of the pregnant woman, serious anomalies in the fetus and/or anomalies incompatible with life, or certain diseases or malformations.

7. Illegal abortion

This is the group of abortions that are carried out outside the law, clandestinely. In addition to being a crime, this type of abortion poses a serious risk to the health of the pregnant woman, since no guarantee as to the procedure and conditions of the intervention to be carried out. to be carried out.

8. Early abortion

Refers to the termination of pregnancy that occurs before 12 weeks.

9. Late abortion

An abortion in which the termination occurs after 12 weeks of gestation.

10. Abortion by mechanical/surgical means.

Refers to the type of induced abortion in which the method of termination is mechanical. the method of termination is mechanicalThe removal of the fetus through procedures such as aspiration, scraping or the injection of substances that burn the fetus and cause its death.

11. Chemical or pharmacological abortion

Chemical abortion is the type of induced abortion in which the pregnant woman is given certain medications in order to terminate the pregnancy. It is usually considered safer than surgical abortion.

12. Complete abortion

A complete abortion is an abortion in which all the Biological remains of the fetus and placenta are expelled or removed.

13. Incomplete abortion

In incomplete abortion part of the fetus or the products of gestation remain inside the uterus, leaving remains inside the uterus.and the remains remain inside the uterus. It can be induced or natural (the latter is more frequent the more advanced the gestation is before its interruption).

Bibliographic references:

• Perez D, Planto A. (1995). Epidemiological factors associated with abortion. Gynecology and Obstetrics.
• Pinto A, Gabiatti Y, Motta M, Paiva L, Vergilio M, Silva J. (1991). Some characteristics of abortion in adolescence.
• Schor N, Lopez F. (1990). Adolescence and contraception: a study of knowledge and use in puerperal women hospitalized for childbirth or abortion. Rev. saude Pública.