208 chapter 9: Family planning
Safe abortion
Where abortion is legal and available, a
woman can have a safe abortion when it is
done under clean and sterile conditions in a
hospital, health center or clinic by a trained
health worker. It will not usually endanger her
future pregnancies. Also, abortions are safest
when done in early pregnancy. There are 3
kinds of abortion that can be safe:
Vacuum aspiration. A health worker uses a
machine or manual vacuum aspiration (MVA)
syringe to empty the womb. If vacuum aspiration
is done correctly, it is usually safe. (See A Book for Midwives, Chapter 23.)
D&C (dilation and curettage). A health worker empties the womb by scraping it
with a sterile instrument. A woman who has had more than 3 D&C abortions may
have scar tissue on the womb that can make a later pregnancy difficult.
Medical abortion. The woman takes medicines that end the pregnancy and empty
the womb. Talk with an experienced health worker about the medicines that are safe
and effective for this. (See Where Women Have No Doctor, pages 244 and 245.)
Unsafe abortion
In places where abortion is illegal, a woman trying to
end a pregnancy may harm herself or turn to someone
who does not give abortions safely. Unsafe abortions
can cause heavy bleeding, serious infection or infertility,
and are often a major cause of death for women.
These unnecessary deaths can be prevented when
disabled women work with other women and men to
make abortion safe, legal, and accessible for all women
in their communities.
If you had either a safe or unsafe abortion in the past and you became sick
or injured afterward with an infection or heavy bleeding, you may have
scars in your womb that could cause problems in another pregnancy or
birth. If you are pregnant now, it is probably safest for you to give birth in
or near a hospital or medical center. Talk with a health worker about this.
A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities 2007