Domestic violence may lead to pregnancy termination

Domestic violence can lead to termination of pregnancy, a study warned.

By: Editorial Team | | Updated: January 8, 2014 1:13 pm

Domestic violence can lead to termination of pregnancy, a study warned. Also Read - Ganesh Chaturthi 2020: 4 reasons an eco-friendly Ganesha is good for you

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Intimate partner violence in women, sometimes referred to as domestic violence, is linked to termination of pregnancy, according to researchers at Kings College London. Also Read - Here are the ways to prevent pregnancy after sex

The study, led by Susan Bewley, consultant obstetrician at Kings College London, also found that intimate partner violence was linked to a women’s partner not knowing about the termination of pregnancy.

The researchers reviewed 74 published studies that provided information about experiences of intimate partner violence (which could be physical, sexual, or emotional/ psychological) among women who had a termination, said the study published in the journal PLOS Medicine.

The authors found that worldwide, intimate partner violence rates among women undergoing termination of pregnancy ranged from 2.5 percent to 30 percent in the preceding year and from 14 percent to 40 percent over their lifetime.

Furthermore, the authors found some evidence that intimate partner violence was associated with single and repeat termination of pregnancy, the study added.

The authors also found that women undergoing terminations of pregnancy welcomed the opportunity to disclose their experiences of intimate partner violence and to be offered help.

‘Novel public health approaches are required to address violence against women and repeat termination,’ said Bewley.

What is an abortion? How should a woman decide between a surgical or medical abortion?

Abortion refers to the deliberate medical termination of pregnancy. It can generally be of two types medical and surgical. A woman who is less than 7 weeks pregnant can undergo a medical abortion but if the gestation period is of more than 7 weeks, the patient is recommended surgical abortion. Surgical abortion can be recommended upto 11-12 weeks of pregnancy. (Read: Could you be pregnant? Confirm with these pregnancy tests). A medical abortion is the process of terminating a pregnancy using medicines or pills. This is a non surgical method to undergo an abortion and must be done under the supervision of a physician. In this type of termination of pregnancy, a woman will have to take one pill of mifepristone initially. Mifepristone softens the walls of the uterus, induces slight contractions and dilates the cervix (opening present at the mouth of the uterus). This aids in the expulsion of the embryo. After about two days the lady will have to take one pill of prostaglandin to cause the expulsion of the embryo and induce bleeding. This happens about 24 hours after the pill is taken.The prostaglandin pill may cause side effects like excessive bleeding, nausea, headaches and abdominal cramps. It is essential that the woman return to the doctor after the bleeding has stopped to check for the complete evacuation of the embryo. This is important because if it is not completely removed it can cause severe complications like septicaemia. More importantly a woman on these pills should not take NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), blood thinners like aspirin and alcohol during this time.

If a woman notices that her bleeding is very heavy and she soaks more than two sanitary pads in two hours, has severe cramps, vomiting or has a high fever she must visit her doctor immediately. (Read: Termination of pregnancy or induced abortion FAQ answered by gynaecologist)

With inputs from: IANS

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Published : January 8, 2014 1:13 pm | Updated:January 8, 2014 1:13 pm

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