Abortion at 6 weeks pregnancy – What do you need to know?
Contents in this post:
Unwanted pregnancy abortion at 6 weeks
Abortion at 6 weeks: What do you need to know legally?
Methods of abortion at 6 weeks
Unwanted pregnancy abortion at 6 weeks:
Well, if you are reading this post, probably you are discovering your options for abortion at 6 weeks of pregnancy. An unwanted pregnancy can come to any woman coming from any walk of life and at any time during her reproductive age. Several reasons can put a woman in undesirable circumstances. But what a woman chooses in such a condition decides the fate of her long-term health and life.
Are you struggling with an unwanted pregnancy? You are not alone. Nearly 3 out of every 10 pregnancies end in abortion. And this number can increase when we talk only about unintended or unplanned pregnancies.
Although abortions are permissible up to a long gestation period depending on the country and the circumstances. However, most abortions for unwanted pregnancies happen in the first nine weeks. And most women realize that they are pregnant only in their 5th or 6th week. It is the time when they have missed a period for more than a week. Even home pregnancy tests detect pregnancy clearly in the 5th or the 6th week.
It is absolutely your personal choice that you alone or with your partner have to make regarding a pregnancy. And if you are considering an abortion, it is normal. If you are hesitant regarding your decision or have any other concerns, please feel free to share your concerns through your comments. You can also reach us via the AHB helpline number for any personal messages. We would love to offer you any help you may need.
Abortion at 6 weeks: What do you need to know legally?
Your abortion options largely depend on the abortion laws of your country. Abortions in each country are governed by the abortion rules set by the government there. And they vary largely from abortion being completely illegal to legal.
Some countries like the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar not only restrict abortions as being illegal; but also consider it a punishable offence. Some other countries like Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Mauritius, Malaysia and Maldives also have very restricted abortion rules.
Due to these very restrictions, many women, Indian expatriates, NRIs and even foreigners travel to Bangalore, India for safe, legal and confidential abortions.
Many women may tend to attempt unsafe abortions such as buying abortion pills from illegal suppliers. But that’s putting their health and lives at stake. Not knowing the risks of unsafe abortions, such women often end up in complicated situations. And not only do they suffer long-term medical effects of unsafe abortion, but also bear some emotional trauma that lasts lifelong.
Some women lose their fertility at the hands of unsafe abortion practices. They struggle in their life ahead with emotional distress in the form of depression, etc. Some others have to pay the cost of abortion with their lives. And some have to lead their lives with long-term medical complications such as recurrent reproductive tract infections, etc.
Why do women attempt unsafe abortions? Well, the very vivid answer is that they do not know their legal abortion options. And even if they know, they somehow want to repel the stigma of abortions. Hence, they prefer secretive abortions, which are mostly unsafe.
This post is to help you know your legal, safe as well as confidential abortion in India options.
Abortion in India at 6 weeks: What are your legal rights?
Although we are here speaking of abortion rights at 6 weeks in India, it does not mean that these imply only to Indians. These laws apply to all women alike regardless of their citizenship when they seek an abortion in India. It means all abortions in India, whoever is the seeking woman are legal.
However, to make abortions as safe as possible, the government has framed guidelines for the same. All abortion hospitals and clinics have to follow these guidelines as a safe medical pathway for providing Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC).
It is better to know all these aspects to plan your abortion accordingly. Let’s see each of these one by one.
Under what circumstances can a woman obtain a legal abortion in India?
A woman can obtain a legal abortion in India in events of the following circumstances:
Contraceptive failure:
Does your country of residence allow abortion for this reason? If not, then, certainly India must be your top abortion destination. This is because abortion in India is available for the reason of contraceptive failure. And do you know, that even unmarried or single women can obtain an abortion in India if their pregnancy is a result of failed contraception?
Moreover, you may choose not to disclose the contraceptive you used. However, if you have used oral contraceptives or an Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD) failed, you must let your doctor know this before an abortion. This is because your method for abortion and prescribed medicines may vary accordingly.
To know more about contraceptives and your abortion options after a contraceptive failure, you can read the post at: Failure of contraception: Where to have a safe abortion?
To protect woman’s physical and/or mental health and/or life:
Sometimes, an ongoing pregnancy may pose threat to a woman’s health and/or life. Abortions are permissible in many countries for this reason. However, they have very restricted rules such as two or more state doctors will have to prove the same with evidence. Or in some countries, one may need to provide her marriage registration certificate and husband’s consent for abortion. So, unmarried women fall out of this category.
However, abortion in India is available for this reason throughout the pregnancy depending on the patient’s medical condition. And for up to the first 20 weeks, the consent of one doctor is sufficient. Besides, you need not be married to obtain a legal abortion in India. Even unmarried women can obtain a legal abortion here.
Fetal anomalies:
It has become possible to detect several fetal deformities quite early in pregnancy. If you too have been diagnosed with something similar, the doctor may have asked you to undergo some screenings like a dual marker, quadruple screening, amniocentesis, etc.
Sadly, not all countries permit abortions for this reason as well. And the ones that permit may not permit it for all fetal anomalies. Like in the UAE, only a few fetal anomalies have been included in the clause for a legal abortion.
Again, in India, a woman can obtain a safe and legal abortion for this reason. She may even get an abortion beyond the ceiling age of 20 weeks. However, the abortion method may vary as per the patient’s specific conditions.
Rape/Incest:
Sadly, many unwanted pregnancies are a result of sexual assaults. Women in such circumstances do not want to pursue the pregnancies full-term. Many such women are even unmarried. Even if married, they may not want to go ahead with a pregnancy resulting from a sexual assault. The same can pose a mental threat to the patient’s life throughout her life.
The Indian government in the light of the fact that a pregnancy resulting from such an immoral act can disturb the mental peace and life of the patient has legalized abortions for this reason as well.
Up till how many weeks can you obtain a legal abortion in India?
A woman can obtain an abortion in India for up to 20 weeks in normal cases. However, in some special cases such as to protect her life or fetal anomalies, abortion is obtainable even beyond 20 weeks.
Do you need to be married for abortion in India?
No, you need not be married for abortion in India. You can obtain it as a married woman or an unmarried girl or a single woman.
Do you need anyone’s consent for an abortion?
If you are an adult, abortion in India is obtainable only with your consent. There is no need for a partner or parents’ consent.
So, now you know what the Indian abortion law has to offer you. Therefore, do not hesitate in seeking professional help. Self-abortions can be very risky. Refrain from such attempts.
Methods of abortion at 6 weeks:
Once you have decided to pay a visit to the abortion hospital, the doctor will evaluate your medical condition. Accordingly, she shall offer you an abortion with the prescribed method. There are two abortion methods that the World Health Organization (WHO) has approved for early pregnancy termination. These are:
- Medical abortion
- Vacuum aspiration abortion
However, the choice of abortion method depends on the patient-specific condition. And it may vary from patient to patient. Let us discuss, what can you expect from both abortion methods at the best abortion hospital in India.
Medical abortion: What to expect at American Hospital Bangalore (AHB):
Medical abortion refers to terminating an early pregnancy with the help of safe abortion pills. It is your available method of abortion only until this week if you are 6 weeks pregnant. The doctors at AHB do not recommend this method beyond this stage because of the increased probability of incomplete abortion.
Moreover, not all women are eligible for a medical abortion. And many others, especially the ones travelling from places like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, RAK, Fujairah, Sharjah, Muscat, Doha, Kuwait, etc. prefer Gentle Care suction abortion. And not only foreign patients but also women from distant cities like Ernakulam, Trivandrum, Chennai, Coimbatore, Mysore, Belagavi, Mangalore, Thrissur, Kochi, Kollam, Kozhikode and other parts of Kerala and India prefer abortion at AHB for the Gentle Care suction abortion available here exclusively.
So, it depends on the patient’s medical condition and also her choice as to which abortion method she prefers.
At AHB, when the patient arrives by her scheduled time, she receives a complete pre-abortion consultation. The doctor evaluates the medical condition of the patient and takes notes of her medical history. She asks for any past or present illnesses and any medicine(s) she may be taking. In case you have your ultrasound scan report of this pregnancy, it is kind of you to bring it along. Elsewise, the doctor can ask you to get it done at a nearby lab.
Besides ultrasound, she may also ask for a routine blood and urine examination. These tests are essential for your safety and shall help the doctor prescribe you the best abortion method.
Medical abortion at 6 weeks pregnancy: Are you eligible?
Medical abortion is done with the help of abortion pills. The WHO recommends the use of two abortion pills for terminating intrauterine pregnancies. Ectopic pregnancies are differently treated using different medicines. And this is why an ultrasound is important before an abortion to check if the pregnancy is intrauterine or ectopic. Besides, it also gives the exact age of the pregnancy.
In case your pregnancy is intrauterine, the doctor will evaluate your eligibility for medical abortion on other parameters. These include:
- Pregnancy is equal to or less than 6 weeks of age.
- You are not allergic to any medicines.
- You are not suffering from any medical condition. And also, you are not taking any medicine(s) that may alter the functioning of abortion pills. Some medicines interact with others and may not be prescribed together.
- You are comfortable with abortion at your home. In case of any emergency, you are also in a condition to avail emergency medical help.
- You are comfortable with abdominal cramps and pain associated with a medical abortion.
- You are comfortable with a surgical procedure if your abortion with pills remains incomplete.
Once you fit this criterion, the doctor can give you abortion pills. However, just in case you do not fit this criterion, you can go for Gentle Care suction abortion. Moreover, patients today do not want to wait for an abortion to complete for up to days and weeks. They seek an early resolution to the problem of an unwanted pregnancy. And medical abortion may not offer them single-day abortion opportunity. Therefore, they prefer Gentle Care suction abortion. It gives them the confidence of a completed abortion before they even leave the hospital.
Medical abortion at 6 weeks pregnancy: How is it done?
Abortion with pills is completed in two steps. However, the efficiency of abortion pills is not more than 95%. With self-abortion, this efficiency further decreases since the patient does not know of dose adjustment, mode of administration and other concerning factors. Whereas, a health care professional looks into all the aspects before prescribing abortion pills to any patient.
During your appointment, the doctor shall hand you both the abortion pills. One is to be taken orally at the clinic itself. For the second tablet(s), the doctor shall let you know when and how to take them. The gap between the 2 tablet types may range from 24-72 hours. The doctor shall decide the best gap for you. You will have to take them when at home.
The first abortion tablet that you take at the clinic is Mifepristone. It blocks the production of progesterone and makes it unavailable for the embryo. In its absence, the embryo does not grow further.
After the second abortion tablet(s), the abortion will happen. It is Misoprostol, an abortifacient. It will bring contractions to your uterus. These contractions will result in embryo expulsion. You can expect to start bleeding in less than an hour. The embryo shall pass naturally through the vaginal route. Most patients report having embryo expulsion within 4-6 hours.
Beyond this, the bleeding shall slow down. However, it may continue for up to days and weeks. Incomplete abortion may present with bleeding even beyond a week. You may need to follow up and get the abortion completed surgically in such an event.
In case, you are looking for a same-day, single-appointment, painless, quick abortion procedure, you can opt for Gentle Care suction abortion. Let’s discuss it now.
Vacuum aspiration abortion at 6 weeks pregnancy: How is it done?
Gentle Care suction abortion is a premier abortion method developed and used by the specialized abortion team at AHB. It is available only in Bangalore. Due to its advantages, people from different cities and countries travel to Bangalore.
Gentle Care suction abortion is a painless and gentle method that takes less than 5 minutes to remove a 6-week unwanted pregnancy. At 6 weeks, the embryo size is very small. The doctor gently pulls it out using suction pressure. She uses a hand-help aspirator for creating the suction. This helps her control the pressure as much as needed. At the same time, other gestation products too are removed easily.
Once the abortion is complete, the doctor gently removes the small tube she inserts to collect the conception products. The procedure uses the latest techniques and tools and hence is the most advanced technology in providing Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC).
Besides, the method is painless, comfortable and quick. The patient can rest in her private room after the abortion. Since the method is non-invasive, there is generally no use of anesthesia. However, if you are very much anxious about pain, you can get it done under anesthesia. After the abortion, you can eat and drink normally. You can order some healthy food or the munchies you would like to have easily from food delivery partners like Swiggy and Zomato. In case you are staying at an Airbnb homestay, you can get some groceries ordered online from Dunzo.
After the abortion, the doctor will make sure that you are feeling comfortable. Then, she shall provide you with a post-recovery prescription and guidelines. Following post-abortion consultation, you can take an Uber or any good metred taxi to your booked hotel or homestay or airport. You can confidently return with a successful abortion.
Gentle Care suction abortion advantages over medical abortion at 6 weeks:
There are several advantages. Some of them have been briefly introduced below:
- Medical abortion involves abdominal pain, discomfort and bleeding for days and weeks. Whereas, Gentle Care suction abortion is absolutely painless. Bleeding is minimal and subsides within a day or two. Discomfort is not there and hence, the patient can resume her routine activities the same or the following day.
- Medical abortion involves a waiting period before the patient is sure of a complete abortion. Even if the embryo expels in the first few hours, some other gestation products like the uterine lining and sac tissue may remain. They may lead to hormonal imbalance and cause bleeding for days and weeks. It may range from slight spotting to heavy bleeding. Whereas, Gentle Care suction abortion gets completed in the clinic itself. Hence, there is no waiting period.
- With a medical abortion, the patient cannot get an Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD) implantation at the same appointment. Whereas, most married women opt for an IUCD just after the Gentle Care suction abortion as one of the most efficient birth control methods.
- With a medical abortion, patients coming from different cities and countries may have to wait until the abortion is complete. They need to get it completed before they leave Bangalore and that too surgically. Whereas, with Gentle Care suction abortion, they can return home on the same or the next day as per their travel arrangements.
Gentle Care suction abortion at AHB is available only to a single patient at a time. And hence, most of their slots remain pre-booked for up to a week. This wait can increase your pregnancy length. So, do not delay. Inquire about the earliest slot available today. The coordinator can schedule your abortion appointment as well as travel and stay arrangements accordingly.
Schedule a Gentle Care abortion appointment today.
Related posts:
- Abortion at 5 weeks pregnancy – What you need to know?
- Abortion at 4 weeks pregnancy – What you need to know?
- The period after abortion: What to expect, how to deal with
- Up to how many weeks can you have a medical abortion?
- What is it like to have an abortion in your country?
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