Abortion in Sharjah Versus Abortion in India
Women’s reproductive health is important and so are their rights regardless of their native countries, religions, castes, creeds or any other distinguishing factor. Sadly, but truly, very little recognition is given to this topic in many parts of the world. And therefore, abortions as part of women’s reproductive health are not governed by equivalent rules in all the countries alike.
Whenever it comes to an unplanned pregnancy to a woman in Sharjah, Dubai or other parts of the UAE, they find themselves in difficult situations and that too, multi-faceted.
Are you too in such a situation and seeking methods to opt-out of unwanted pregnancy?
If yes, read this post to know your safe and healthy abortion in Sharjah options.
Abortion options for unwanted pregnancies in Sharjah:
In many countries like the United Arab Emirates, abortions are highly restricted. Sharjah, one of the most populous (the third-most) cities in the UAE.
Many women there are expatriates who have travelled there either for work or with their families. And many others are native citizens of the UAE. But when carrying unwanted pregnancies, they are all sailing in the same boat since their right to abortion in Sharjah will be governed by the abortion rules of the country.
Here is a brief guide that will help you know your legal abortion in Dubai, legal abortion in Sharjah and legal abortions in India options:
Abortion rules in Sharjah, UAE:
Abortion is restricted. Abortion in Sharjah is illegal.
Whether you live in Sharjah or seek an abortion in Dubai, a nearby city, all states in the UAE will put you in the same legal situation for an unwanted pregnancy. The rules there that govern abortions are framed under the UAE Penal Code as a part of section 340 which states that abortions are illegal and permissible only under two conditions. These are:
- In case the ongoing pregnancy is a threat to the woman’s life, but this needs to be verified and proved medically.
- In case the child to be born will either not survive or will have deformities that are not curable.
Except for these two conditions, you cannot ask for terminating a pregnancy even if it is unwanted or unplanned.
Next big thing is that these abortion rules are applicable only for married women. A woman has to prove her marriage through a valid marriage registration certificate.
Further adding the problem is the consent for abortion which is required by both partners.
Abortion in Sharjah is a punishable criminal offence.
Abortion is considered a criminal act and the woman is liable to punishment as per the governing laws. People who help the woman are also punished. Abortion punishment in Sharjah is maximum up to 100 lashes and up to 5 years of imprisonment.
Abortion for unmarried in Sharjah:
Getting pregnant out of wedlock is considered an illicit sex act in Sharjah and the couple is punished and the woman is not allowed to terminate the pregnancy. Abortion is considered a sin, but the woman has to face punishment for getting pregnant in the first place. Indulging in sexual activities except the married partner is also punishable.
If you are living in Sharjah and have somehow ended up with an unplanned pregnancy, you cannot ask for a legal abortion. So, what are your options?
Either continue with the pregnancy and be a victim to societal stigma and punishment. Or to avail of unsafe abortion in Sharjah which is not only illegal and punishable but also can endanger your life and health. So, never try to attempt an unsafe abortion in Sharjah. To know your safe and legal options, keep reading further.
Since the abortion rules in the UAE restrict abortions under wide circumstances, many women end up with unsafe abortions risking their health and life. Some may have to live with co-morbidities all their life and some have to pay for unsafe abortions with their lives since complications with unsafe abortions can even be fatal.
The problem for expatriate women in Sharjah:
Many women live in Sharjah as expatriates. Unmarried pregnant expatriates in the UAE may or may not be married. Due to some or the other reason just like the latest COVID-19 situation that halted government and other business activities, such couples may not get timely marriage certificates from respective embassies.
In the absence of a valid marriage registration certificate, the couple has to face punishment for illicit sexual activity. And then, they cannot legally obtain an abortion for the unwanted pregnancy.
Either they travel back to their country for an abortion, but not all countries have liberal abortion rules as are in India.
This has made it the best option for many women carrying unplanned pregnancies to travel to Bangalore, India to seek a safe, legal and confidential abortion.
Abortion in India and abortion in Sharjah, UAE: The legal differences:
The first major difference in the abortion rules of the two countries is that abortion in India is legal under a broad window of circumstances. These are:
- The pregnancy has resulted from contraceptive failure. This is the major reason for unwanted pregnancies but a legal abortion can be availed in India and not in Sharjah.
- The pregnancy is a result of rape/incest. In India, you can avail of abortion in this case if you are an adult with only your consent.
- If the ongoing pregnancy poses a threat to the mother’s physical and/or mental health.
- If the woman is physically or mentally incapable of childbearing.
- If the woman’s health and/or life is in danger.
- If fetal anomalies have been detected.
Most of these circumstances do not allow legal abortion in Sharjah.
Abortion in India for foreign women: A big relief:
You need not be a citizen of India for availing of a legal abortion in India. You can obtain it as a part of medical tourism, for which too the rules are not restricted.
You need not be married for obtaining a legal abortion in India. You can also obtain a legal abortion in Bangalore, India if you are unmarried, married or a widow.
You can obtain an abortion in Bangalore, India only with your consent if you are an adult (attained 18 years of age). No parental consent or partner’s consent is necessary in such cases.
Now, this makes travelling to India your best abortion decision. But, how to choose the best MTP centre in Bangalore, India for your abortion is something you need to have a piece of knowledge about before visiting so that you can make arrangements accordingly.
Abortion at American Hospital Bangalore (AHB): Best abortion decision:
While travelling to a far city or country from your hometown for an abortion, it is always best to make prior arrangements to help with your trip throughout and make it easy. Here is your guide for ‘how to prepare for an abortion?’.
Travelling to Bangalore, India from Sharjah:
You can travel to Bangalore via a short non-stop flight that takes less than four hours or via a connecting flight according to availability and your preferences.
Within the city, you can have your hotel pre-booking online via any travel partner for a day or two. You can directly check-in and then via a cab, you can reach the hospital easily at your scheduled appointment time. Since abortions at AHB are single-day procedures, you can get the procedure done and come back to the hotel for rest. Next day or as per your booking arrangements, you can fly back to Sharjah with a stress-free mind.
Do you know how far are you in your pregnancy?
If yes, you can call the helpline number, talk to a healthcare professional and schedule the earliest appointment. Even if you are not sure of your pregnancy length, not a problem if you are going to travel to Bangalore for an abortion.
At AHB, you will be checked for your exact length of pregnancy before terminating the unwanted pregnancy. Besides, the location of pregnancy will also be ascertained since it is highly important to rule out the risks associated with ectopic pregnancies.
The gentle abortion methods at AHB, Bangalore:
American Hospital Bangalore follows the Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) guidelines as directed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a part of reproductive and sexual health and rights for women.
The WHO has recommended three methods of abortion as safe abortion practices. It also has framed guidelines for tools and techniques to be used, the centres where safe abortions can be held, qualifications and training of registered medical practitioners, gynaecologists, nurses and other assisting staff, the psychological and professional treatment to a woman as a part of patient care and more.
AHB is proud to be following all the guidelines to help women access CAC as a part of their reproductive rights.
The three methods prescribed for safe abortions of intrauterine pregnancies according to their gestation length are:
- The Medical method of abortion
- Vacuum aspiration method (Manual Vacuum Aspiration -MVA and Electric Vacuum Aspiration-EVA)
- Dilatation and Evacuation method of abortion (D&E)
At AHB, all these methods are available and here’s your guide into what to expect from each type. Before prescribing the best abortion method for you, the doctor will give you a private consultation briefing you on everything you may need to know about the procedures.
Some diagnostic tests will also be performed within the hospital settings to help the doctor in prescribing the best method and minimize the chances of any complications.
What to expect from the medical abortion at AHB and what makes it your option?
The medical method of abortion is the method of abortion usually known as medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) using approved abortion pills. WHO recommends this method to be used only for very early pregnancies which are less than 6-8 weeks.
So, this method is your option if:
- Your pregnancy is less than 6-8 weeks.
- Your pregnancy is intrauterine.
Performing the medical method of abortion for pregnancies beyond this period can lead to incomplete abortions since the size of the embryo beyond this period is larger and it may not be completely evacuated just with pills.
At AHB, both the length of the pregnancy and its location are first ascertained before prescribing any method. This is done through a transvaginal scan within the hospital. Some other clinical tests are also performed to aid in preventing any complications. All the tests are performed in-house, so it’s going to be hassle-free for you.
If MTP is your prescribed and preferred choice, then you will be administered one abortion pill either to be taken orally or administered intravaginally at the hospital. This pill, Mifepristone will stop the growth of the fetus.
The next pill, Misoprostol will either be given to you on your second appointment or you can take it at the hotel since there is a gap between the administration of the two pills. This pill will bring uterine contractions leading to the evacuation of the embryo and the pregnancy termination.
The embryo will flow out through the vaginal route naturally like menstrual bleeding.
Things that you should know about medical abortion methods:
- This method is 95%-98% efficient which means that there are always some chances of incomplete abortion. And no doctor or any other healthcare provider can ascertain beforehand whether abortion pills will work in your case or not.
- In events of incomplete abortions, the final removal of remaining pieces of gestation is removed surgically for which you may have to visit again.
- This method involves abdominal cramps and hence, your abortion may be accompanied by cramping pains.
- Vaginal bleeding may range from moderate to heavy and lead to discomfort.
- You will have to wait for up to a week to be sure if the abortion was complete. In events of incomplete abortion, there may be vaginal spotting even after a week, abdominal pain and may or may not be accompanied by fever.
There are other one-appointment procedures for women from Sharjah who are travelling to India to seek completed and successful abortions in single appointments. Keep reading further to know your best option.
What to expect from the Vacuum Aspiration Method of Abortion at AHB and what makes it your option?
VA method of abortion is prescribed for pregnancies that are less than 12 weeks. This method involves sucking out the embryo from the uterus with the help of a slender device with an aspirator. The suction needed is applied either manually or by an electric motor. If the former method is used, it is known as Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) and the latter is known as Electric Vacuum Aspiration (EVA).
Everything you may need to know about VA at AHB:
- Latest medical equipment and techniques are used for the VA method for abortion. Both MVA and EVA are available and the doctor uses the one that is best for the patient.
- All equipment is sterilized before and after each procedure minimizing the chances of infections.
- The procedure is entirely painless, done under anaesthesia and by highly qualified doctors with more than four decades of experience and internationally trained nurses making them the best abortion team.
- It takes between 3 minutes to 10 minutes only.
- There may be no bleeding at all or minimal bleeding for a couple of days. Though most patients do not feel any pain post-abortion, yet you will be prescribed pain management medication in case a need may arise.
- Being a single appointment procedure, you can expect to get discharged within an hour or so after you feel comfortable. Until then, you can relax and rest in your private room with a nurse by your side to help you with anything you may need.
- It is a gentle care abortion method, painless and nearly 100% efficient.
- You will receive post-abortion care guidance and can get discharged the same day. After discharge, you can hire a cab to take you to the hotel where you can stay until your return flight.
- You can opt for this method if you choose to even for pregnancies that are less than 8 weeks and can be terminated medically. This is because this method is more efficient, involves zero to minimum bleeding, is painless and is a single appointment procedure with confirmation of a complete abortion. Therefore, most women from Sharjah and other foreign places opt for the VA method of abortion for intrauterine pregnancies less than 12 weeks.
What to expect from the Dilatation and Evacuation (D&E) Method of Abortion at AHB and what makes it your option?
D & E method or the surgical abortion method is recommended by the WHO to be prescribed for terminating pregnancies that are more than 12 weeks but are still in the legal age, which in India is up to 20 weeks.
This method involves dilatating the cervix, using medical tools to abrade the uterine lining. This procedure removes the embryo and all the gestation products. Since it involves uterine perforation and is slightly invasive, it must be performed only by a registered medical practitioner who is qualified, certified and trained to carry out surgical abortion procedures.
There are several complications with unsafe surgical abortions and by no means should you fall in for them. They can cause injury to your internal organs, may lead to infections, haemorrhage and other emergencies. Hence, it is crucial to visit a safe abortion clinic for an abortion.
Everything you may need to know about D&E at AHB:
- Latest medical equipment and techniques are used for the D&E method for abortion.
- All pieces of equipment are sterilized before and after each procedure minimizing the chances of infections.
- The procedure is entirely painless, done under anaesthesia and by highly qualified doctors with more than four decades of experience and internationally trained nurses making them the best abortion team.
- It takes only less than 30 minutes to be completed.
- There may be no bleeding at all or minimal bleeding for a couple of days. Though most patients do not feel any pain post-abortion, yet you will be prescribed pain management medication in case a need may arise.
- Being a single appointment procedure, you can expect to get discharged within a couple of hours or so after you feel comfortable. Until then, you can relax and rest in your private room with a nurse by your side to help you with anything you may need.
- It is a gentle care abortion method, painless and nearly 100% efficient.
- You will receive post-abortion care guidance and can get discharged the same day. After discharge, you can hire a cab to take you to the hotel where you can stay until your return flight.
Safe, legal and confidential abortion in India at AHB, Bangalore:
Besides the safety and legal aspects already discussed above, another big thing is the confidentiality of an abortion. Since abortions in many countries, regions, communities, societies and families may be despised.
The gravity of stigma is higher in the case of unmarried girls abortion in Sharjah. Therefore, they seek unsafe methods of abortion.
At AHB, you can feel safe both in terms of health as well as your privacy. As per the non-disclosure policy of the hospital, your personal and abortion details cannot be shared with anyone except yourself. And no one can even tell in the future that you have had an abortion in your past unless you reveal it yourself.
Besides, the caring and compassionate hospital staff treat all its patients alike with a professional and non-judgmental attitude. What can be better than to have a safe, successful and secret legal abortion in India?
Related posts:
- Abortion in Dubai compared to Abortion in Bangalore India – What are your options?
- Considering Abortion in Dubai, Sharjah, UAE? – Your Best Options Abroad
- Post-abortion care for rapid and safe abortion recovery
- Unwanted pregnancy – what are your options in India?
- How is Gentle Care Abortion different from surgical abortion at any abortion clinic?
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