Chapter Thirteen Contraception and Abortion Agenda  Discuss History and Considerations Associated with Methods  Discuss Contraception Methods  Discuss Abortion.

Download Report

Transcript Chapter Thirteen Contraception and Abortion Agenda  Discuss History and Considerations Associated with Methods  Discuss Contraception Methods  Discuss Abortion.

Chapter Thirteen
Contraception and Abortion
Agenda
 Discuss History and Considerations
Associated with Methods
 Discuss Contraception Methods
 Discuss Abortion
Class Exercise: Contraception Values
Clarification
 Complete the handout entitled “Contraception
Values Clarification.
 After you have completed the handout,
discuss your response in small groups.
Introduction
 Majority of U.S. pregnancies are not planned
and most are a result of not using
contraception
 Factors increasing motivation to use
contraception:
good communication with partner,
lower cost,
effectiveness rates,
frequency of intercourse,
motivation to avoid pregnancy,
side effects,
openness about sexuality
Contraception: History
Contraception in Ancient Times
Contraception in the U.S.: 1800s and
Early 1900s
Contraception Outside the U.S.
Contraception in Ancient Times
 Ancient Greeks: magic, superstition, herbs
 Egyptians: fumigating female genitalia,
tampon soaked in herbal liquid & honey,
inserting a mixture of crocodile feces, sour
milk, & honey
 South Africa: insert vegetable seed pods
 Africa: insert a grassy cervical plug
 Persia: insert alcohol soaked sponges
 Greece: insert empty pomegranate halves
Contraception in the U.S.: 1800s and
Early 1900s
 Concern in early 1800s was to curb poverty
by controlling fertility
 1873 Comstock laws prohibited dispersing
information about contraceptives, including by
doctors
Contraception use is affected by
 Social issues – e.g. desired family size
 Economic issues
 Knowledge & misinformation
 Religion
 Gender roles & power – in some areas, men
make the contraceptive decisions; for some it
is the responsibility of both
Choosing a Method of
Contraception
FDA Approval Process
Lifestyle Issues
FDA Approval Process
 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) must formally approve the method
 10-14 year process to develop a new
contraceptive drug
 Drug company submits a new drug
application demonstrating safety in animal
tests & a desire to conduct human trials
FDA Approval Process
 3 phases
Phase 1: 20-80 volunteers to test
effectiveness
Phase 2: several hundred to test
effectiveness, side effects, risks
Phase 3: hundreds to thousands are tested
for generalization
 Animal trials are conducted throughout the
process
Class Discussion: Lifestyle Issues
Associated with Contraceptive
 The following factors seem to be associated
with choosing a contraceptive method:
Own health & risks
Number of sexual partners
Frequency of intercourse
Risk of acquiring a STI
Responsibility level
Method cost
Advantages & disadvantages of the
method
 Discuss influence of each.
Contraception Methods
Barrier Methods: Condoms and Caps
 Prevent sperm from entering the uterus
 Barrier Methods:
Condoms
The Diaphragm
The Contraceptive Sponge
The Cervical Barriers
Condoms
 1850 – latex condoms available in the U.S.
 $10-$15/dozen
 Non-expired condom is rolled onto an erect
penis (foreskin pulled back), ½-inch empty
space at the tip
 Water-based lubricants for latex condoms
 Condom grasped at base when withdrawing
 Latex condoms have lower rates of slippage
& breakage, and offer better STI protection
Condoms
 In 1994, female polyurethane/nonlatex
condoms were available
 $2 each
 7 inches long with 2 flexible rings
 Inner ring squeezed and inserted close to the
cervix
 Outer ring lies outside the vagina
 Adequate lubrication is necessary
Condoms
 Effectiveness rates
Latex condoms: 85-98%
Female condoms: 79-95%
 Latex & polyurethane protect against STI
transmission
 Lambskin condoms block sperm, but contain
holes large enough for viruses to pass
through
 Heat can damage condoms
Condoms
 Advantages:
STI protection
Encourages male participation
Inexpensive
No prescription necessary
Can reduce premature ejaculation
Can reduce postcoital drip
No medical side effects
Condoms
 Disadvantages:
Reduces spontaneity
Can reduce sensation
Female condoms can be difficult to use,
uncomfortable, noisy
 Female & male condoms should never be
used together
 Popular in some countries, not used in others
The Diaphragm
 Not widely used, almost 0% in 2002
 Made of latex or silicone
 Many sizes and shapes; a fitting by a health
care provider is necessary
 $20-$35 diaphragm, $13 spermicidal
jelly/cream, office visit charge
 They can last for many years
Diaphragms come in a variety of different shapes and sizes and must be fitted by a health-care
provider.
The Diaphragm
 Diaphragm rim is covered in spermicidal jelly
& a tablespoon of jelly is placed in the dome;
it is folded in half and inserted into the vagina
with the front rim tucked under the pubic bone
 It should not be felt & should cover the cervix
 It can be inserted up to 6 hours prior to
intercourse
 Left in for at least 6-8 hours, no more than 24
 After use it is washed with soap & water
Instructions for proper insertion of a diaphragm.
The Diaphragm
 84-94% effective, lower for those who have
given birth
 Advantages:
Increases spontaneity
Some STI & PID protection
Reduces risk of cervical dysplasia &
cancer
Does not affect hormonal levels
Relatively inexpensive
The Diaphragm
 Disadvantages:
Physician fitting and prescription
Insertion & removal involves touching the
genitals
Increased risk of toxic shock syndrome
and urinary tract infection
Postcoital drip
 Low usage outside the U.S.
The Contraceptive Sponge
 The Today contraceptive sponge was taken
off the market for a decade due to issues with
the manufacturing plant; reintroduced in 2005
 Available over the counter in one size
 The sponge covers the cervix & contains
spermicide; it blocks, absorbs, & deactivates
sperm
 One box of 3 sponges is $13
The Today contraceptive sponge was back on the market in late 2005 in the United States.
The Diaphragm
 Sponge is moistened with water to activate
the spermicide, folded in half, & inserted to
cover the cervix
 Can be inserted up to 24 hours in advance,
with intercourse occurring as many times as
desirable in that time period
 Must be left in at least 6 hours after
intercourse
 75-89% effectiveness rates
Instructions for proper insertion of a contraceptive sponge.
The Diaphragm
 Advantages:
No prescription necessary
Can have intercourse several times within
24 hours
Increase sexual spontaneity
Do not affect hormonal levels
Disposable
The Diaphragm
 Disadvantages:
Increased risk of toxic shock syndrome &
urinary tract infection
Cannot be used while menstruating
Requires touching of the genitals
High expense if frequently used
Some men can feel it
 Low usage rates in other cultures
The Cervical Barriers
 Thimble-shaped, silicone barriers that fit over
the cervix
 Block entrance to the uterus & deactivate
sperm with the spermicide
 Fitting by a health care provider is necessary
 Two types:
FemCap
Lea’s Shield
The FemCap is a silicone cup shaped like a sailor’s hat that fits securely over the cervix.
Lea’s Shield is a silicone cup with a one-way valve and a loop for easier removal.
The Cervical Barriers
 $15-75 plus cost of spermicide
 Left in place for 8 hours after intercourse
 After use, it is washed with soap & water
 Not to be used during menstruation
 86% effectiveness rate, lower for those who
have had children
The Cervical Barriers
 Advantages:
Left in place for up to 48 hours
Do not affect hormonal levels
Immediately effective
Not permanent
One-way release valve in Lea’s Shield
reduces risk of toxic shock syndrome
The Cervical Barriers
 Disadvantages:
Abnormal Pap smears
Increased risk of urinary tract infections
Increased vaginal odors
Cervical damage
Increased postcoital drip
Fitting is necessary
Some male partners feel it & may dislodge
it
The Cervical Barriers
 Widely used in England
 Lea’s Shield is available over the counter in
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, & Canada
Hormonal Methods for Women: The
Pill, the Patch, and More
 Changing hormonal levels can deter
production of ova, fertilization, and
implantation
Hormonal Methods for Women: The
Pill, the Patch, and More
 Combined-Hormone Methods
Birth Control Pills
Hormonal Ring
Hormonal Patch
 Progestin-Only Methods
Subdermal Implants
Hormonal Injectibles
Combined-Hormone Methods
 Combination of estrogen & progesterone
 Can repress ovulation and thicken cervical
mucus
Birth Control Pills
 Federally approved in 1960
 Most popular contraceptive in the U.S. and
around the world
 Most studied type of medication
 Combination birth control pills are $12-25 per
month
 Designed to mimic a menstrual cycle, with 21
days of hormones and one off week
 Bleeding is medically induced
Birth Control Pills
 Some take 2 to 3 packs of active pills in a row
to reduce the number of menstrual periods
 Seasonale – 84-day active pill with 7-day
placebo
 Reducing periods can help those with heavy
bleeding and cramping
 60% of women prefer to not have a period
Birth Control Pills
 Increase in estrogen & progesterone prevent
the pituitary from sending hormones to ripen
the ovaries
 Cervical mucus thickens & endometrium
buildup is minimal
 The body is tricked into thinking it is pregnant
 May experience other signs of pregnancy that
usually disappear within a few months
Birth Control Pills
 Initially prescribed a low-dose estrogen pill;
increased if breakthrough bleeding occurs
 Monophasic pills contain the same dose of
hormones in each pill
 Multiphasic pills vary in hormone amount
 Triphasil pills have 3 sets, each week the
hormonal dosage increases
 92-99.7% effective
 Need to take it each day at the same time
Birth Control Pills
 Advantages:
High effectiveness rate
Doesn’t interfere with spontaneity
Reduced menstrual flow, cramps, & PMS
Increased menstrual regularity
Reduced risk of ovarian cysts, uterine &
breast fibroids, facial acne, ovarian &
endometrial cancers, PID, benign breast
disease
Birth Control Pills
 Disadvantages:
No STI protection
Female’s responsibility; taken daily
Can be expensive
Lower effectiveness if overweight
Not appropriate for smokers
 Used throughout the world, although not
popular everywhere; some places have it
over the counter
Hormonal Ring
 NuvaRing introduced in 2003
 Plastic ring inserted into the vagina once a
month for 3 weeks, removed for 1 week
 Affects the body as combination pills do
 Body heat & moisture activate a constant
dose of estrogen & progesterone; lower dose
than pills
 $30-35 per month
 99.7% effective
The NuvaRing is inserted deep into the vagina; moisture and heat cause it to time-release hormones
that inhibit ovulation.
Hormonal Ring
 Advantages:
High effectiveness
Doesn’t interfere with spontaneity
Reduces menstrual flow, cramps, PMS
Increases menstrual regularity
Protection from ovarian & endometrial
cancer and ovarian cysts
Fertility restored upon removal
Hormonal Ring
 Disadvantages:
Comfortable touching genitals
No STI protection
Side effects that typically disappear with
regular use: breakthrough bleeding, weight
change, breast tenderness, nausea, mood
changes, changes in sexual desire,
increased vaginal irritation & discharge
 No data on cross-cultural use
Hormonal Patch
 Ortho Evra patch is a thin, peach colored
sticker attached to the skin with time-released
hormones
 Placed on buttock, stomach, or upper torso
for 3 weeks, no patch for the 4th week
 Affects the body as combination pills do
 $30-35 per month
 99.7% effective, lower if weigh more than 198
pounds
The Ortho Evra patch is worn on the buttock, abdomen, or upper torso for three weeks each month.
Hormonal Patch
 Advantages:
High effectiveness
Doesn’t interfere with spontaneity
Reduces menstrual flow, cramps, PMS
Increases menstrual regularity
Protection from ovarian & endometrial
cancer and ovarian cysts
Hormonal Patch
 Disadvantages:
No STI protection
Side effects similar to hormonal ring
Skin irritation
Change in vision, discomfort to contact
wearers
Collects lint
Nearly impossible to conceal from partner
 No data on cross-cultural use
Progestin-Only Methods
 Do not contain estrogen and can be used by
women that cannot take estrogen, such as
those who are breastfeeding & smokers
 Over time, may eliminate periods
 May cause slight weight gain, bloatedness, &
breast tenderness
Progestin-Only Methods
 Minipill/POPs (progestin-only pills)
Inhibit ovulation and thicken mucus
Fewer side effects than combination pills
92-99.7% effective
More expensive than combination pills
Can cause irregular bleeding
Higher rate of ectopic pregnancies if get
pregnant while taking the minipill
Subdermal Implants
 Constant dose of progestin is time released
for up to 5 years
 Norplant is no longer available
 Jadelle is FDA approved but not marketed in
the U.S.
2 silicone cylinders implanted in the
forearm in a 10 minute procedure; $500+
 Implanon is a single-rod approved in 2004
 Fertility restored upon removal
Subdermal Implants
 Suppresses ovulation, thickens cervical
mucus, unreceptive endometrium
 99.95% effective, decreases after the 3rd year
 Lower effectiveness rates if over 154 pounds
 Advantages:
Effective, long-lasting, reversible
Simple implantation procedure
No estrogen side effects
Decreased menstrual flow, cramping
Subdermal Implants
 Disadvantages:
Expensive implantation fees, arm pain,
painful removal, possible scarring
Irregular bleeding, cramping
Headaches, nausea, dizziness, weight
change, rash, acne, hair growth or loss
Vision problems
 Popular in South Africa
Hormonal Injectibles
 Depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DepoProvera) – synthetic progesterone
 Most popular non-oral contraceptive
 Injected into the arm or buttock muscle every
3 months
 $30-125 per injection
 Works within 24 hours
 Fertility resumes 10 months after last injection
Hormonal Injectibles
 97-99.7% effective
 Advantages:
Long lasting injection
Moderately expensive
No estrogen
Decreased menstrual flow & cramping
Decreased risk of endometrial & ovarian
cancers
Allows for spontaneity
Hormonal Injectibles
 Disadvantages:
Office visits every 3 months
Irregular bleeding
Fatigue, dizziness, weakness, headaches
Appetite increases
Decrease in bone density
Risk of liver, cervical, and breast cancers
Long return to fertility
 Low usage rates in many countries
Chemical Methods for Women:
Spermicides
 Spermicides come as foams, gels,
suppositories, creams, foaming tablets, films,
and capsules
 Inserted into vagina with applicator or finger
10-30 minutes prior to intercourse
 $5-10 over the counter
 Can also help reduce STIs
 Likely to see microbicides introduced that will
protect from HIV & other STIs
Chemical Methods for Women:
Spermicides
 71-82% effective
 Effectiveness is reduced if tampons or
douches are used within 6-8 hours
 Foam is more effective than other varieties
 Advantages:
Over the counter
Provide lubrication
Some protection from STIs
No serious side effects
Chemical Methods for Women:
Spermicides
 Disadvantages:
Used each time
Increased postcoital drip
May produce allergic reactions, skin
irritations
Increased risk of urinary tract infections
Unpleasant taste
 Widely used in some countries, and not used
much in other countries
Intrauterine Methods for Women: IUDs
and IUSs
 Intrauterine Device (IUD)
ParaGard Copper T – can be left in for 12
years
 Intrauterine System (IUS)
Mirena – IUD that contains time-released
progestin; can be left in for 5 years
 Most IUD & IUS users are 35 or older
 $150-300 plus office visit
Intrauterine Methods for Women: IUDs
and IUSs
 IUDs & IUSs create a slight infection in the
uterus that obstructs sperm mobility
 Progesterone from the IUS also affects the
endometrium, hampering implantation
 Health care providers insert the IUD
 Each month the woman must check for the
string to assure it is still in place
 99.2-99.9% effective, lower if never pregnant
Insertion of an IUD.
Intrauterine Methods for Women: IUDs
and IUSs
 Advantages:
Least expensive method over time
Allows for spontaneity
Decreases menstrual flow (Mirena)
Long lasting effects
Intrauterine Methods for Women: IUDs
and IUSs
 Disadvantages:
No STI protection
Risk of uterine perforation and PID
Irregular bleeding
Painful insertion & removal
Increased menstrual flow and cramping
May be expelled from uterus
May cause discomfort to the partner
 Widely used through most of the world
Natural Methods for Women and Men
 Natural Family Planning and Fertility
Awareness
 Withdrawal
 Abstinence
Natural Family Planning and Fertility
Awareness
 Involves a woman charting her menstrual
periods and determining ovulation by daily
monitoring of basal body temperature and
checking cervical mucus
 Body temperature rises 0.4-0.8°F before
ovulation & remains elevated until
menstruation
 Cervical mucus is thin, stretchy during
ovulation
Natural Family Planning and Fertility
Awareness
 Abstinence is practiced during ovulation
 Or a form of birth control is used during
ovulation (fertility awareness)
 Mostly used by women spacing pregnancies
that are not as concerned about prevention
 Ovulation kits can also be used
 75-99% effective
Natural Family Planning and Fertility
Awareness
 Advantages:
Useful if other methods are not acceptable
for religious reasons
Inexpensive
Educates about the menstrual cycle
Encourages partner communication
No side effects
Natural Family Planning and Fertility
Awareness
 Disadvantages:
No STI protection
Restricts spontaneity
Low effectiveness
Takes time & commitment
Several cycles need to be recorded before
it is reliable
 Widely used in many countries, particularly
Catholic countries
Withdrawal
 Also called coitus interruptus
 Just before ejaculation, the male withdraws
his penis and ejaculates outside of the
woman
 73-96% effective
 Sperm may remain in urethra from previous
ejaculations & impregnate without the male
ejaculating inside of the woman
Withdrawal
 Advantages:
Useful if other methods are not acceptable
for religious reasons
No costs
Good if couples aren’t concerned about
prevention
Withdrawal
 Disadvantages:
No STI protection
Low effectiveness
May lead to premature ejaculation
May be stressful
Requires trust & restraint
 Widely used in many countries
Abstinence
 Refraining from sexual intercourse
 100% effective
 Protects against STIs
Permanent (Surgical) Methods
 A woman may be fertile until 50-51 years
 A man may be fertile most of his life
 Sterilization in one of the safest & most
effective contraceptive methods
 Surgery that is typically irreversible
 Two types:
Female Sterilization
Male Sterilization
Female Sterilization
 Also called tubal sterilization or getting “tubes
tied”
 A small incision is made under the navel or
lower in the abdomen
 Both Fallopian tubes are blocked through
cauterization, rings, bands, clips, plugs, or
clamps, or the tubes may be cut
 This procedure uses general anesthesia as
outpatient surgery or after childbirth
Essure is a permanent method of contraception.
Female Sterilization
 A woman still ovulates, but the egg can’t enter
the uterus
 $2000-5000
 Risks: anesthesia side effects, bleeding,
infection, injury to other organs
 Reduces risk of ovarian cancer
 Most widely used birth control method in the
world
Male Sterilization
 A vasectomy impedes the travel of sperm
through the vas deferens
 Cheaper, safer, & simpler than tubal
sterilization
 Two ¼ to ½ inch incisions are made in the
scrotum and the vas deferens is snipped,
clipped, or cauterized under local anesthesia
 20 minute procedure
 The man ejaculates semen without sperm
In a vasectomy, each vas deferens is clipped, cut, or cauterized. A vasclip uses a flexible plastic clip to
block the vas deferens.
Male Sterilization
 After surgery, sperm for 20 more ejaculations
remains
 Sperm counts are checked 2-3 months later
to check sterility
 $300-750
 Risks: swelling, bruising, internal bleeding,
infection
 99-99.9% effective
Permanent (Surgical) Methods
 Advantages:
High effectiveness
Permanent
Allows for spontaneity
 Disadvantages:
Expensive, irreversible surgery
No STI protection
 Widely used throughout the world
Abortion
The Abortion Debate
Why Do Women Have Abortions?
Abortion Procedures
Reactions to Abortion
Teens and Abortion
Cross-Cultural Aspects of Abortion
Class Exercise: Abortion
 A fertilized egg is a human being from the moment
the sperm and egg unite.
 The rights of the fetus always take precedence over
the rights of the mother.
 Parental consent should be required for teenagers
seeking abortion.
 Spousal consent should be required for married
women seeking abortion.
 I support a woman’s right to choose in any and all
circumstances.
 I support a woman’s right to choose if the
pregnancy resulted from a rape.
 I support a woman’s right to choose if the
pregnancy resulted from contraceptive failure.
Exercise (cont.)
 I believe abortion is justified if the woman feels that
she is not ready for this child.
 I believe abortion is justified if a serious birth defect
has been detected via amniocentesis.
 I believe abortion is justified if the couple already has
5 children and the woman unexpectedly becomes
pregnant again.
 I believe abortion is justified if parents of two boys
discover they are pregnant again with a third boy, and
they were really hoping for a girl.
 I believe abortion should be legal.
 There should be a mandatory 24-hour waiting period
for all women seeking an abortion.
 Adoption could solve the problem of “unwanted
children.”
The Abortion Debate
Pro-Life versus Pro-Choice
Historical Perspectives
Legal versus Illegal Abortions
Pro-Life versus Pro-Choice
 Pro-life supporters: an embryo at any stage of
development is a person and aborting a fetus
is murder
 Pro-choice supporters: it is a woman’s choice
and the government should not control her
body
 No gender differences in abortion attitudes
Historical Perspectives
 Abortion has been practiced throughout time
in many societies
 Religion has determined attitudes for most of
western history
 In 1965, all U.S. states banned abortion with
some exceptions
 Illegal (back-alley) abortions were often
performed in unsanitary conditions and
produced many complications, even death
Historical Perspectives
 In 1973, Roe v. Wade protected a woman’s
right to have an abortion in the 1st trimester
 2nd trimester abortions regulated by states
 3rd trimester abortions can be limited or
banned by states, unless a woman is at risk
 In 1992, the Supreme Court gave states the
right to restrict abortions through waiting
periods, mandatory counseling, parental
consent, public funding limitations
Historical Perspectives
 In 1994, Supreme Court barred anti-abortion
demonstrators from getting within 36 feet of
an abortion clinic
 Louisiana has the most restrictions
 New York, California, & Washington state
have been most protective of their abortion
laws
Legal versus Illegal Abortions
 Since legalization in 1973, deaths from
abortion decreased significantly
Video: “If these Walls Could Talk”
Why Do Women Have Abortions?
 Baby would interfere with life goals
 Lack financial resources
 Poor relationship with the father
 Don't want others to know they had sex
 Partner and/or family pressure
 Fetal deformity or risk to mother’s health
 Rape
 54% of women who had an abortion used
contraception when they became pregnant
Abortion Procedures
 One of the most common surgical procedures
in the U.S.; most performed in abortion clinics
 Surgery involves risks
 Most serious risks are uterine perforation,
hemorrhaging, cervical laceration, infection,
complications with anesthesia, death
 Risks increase with the use of general
anesthesia and the further along the
pregnancy is
Abortion Procedures
 First-trimester Surgical Abortion
 Second-trimester Surgical Abortion
 Medical Abortion
Mifepristone (RU-486)
Methotrexate
First-Trimester Surgical Abortion
 Vacuum aspiration – before 14 weeks
gestation
 Usually an outpatient surgery with local
anesthesia
 88% of abortions
 Woman lies on examining table, feet in
stirrups
 Speculum is placed in the vagina, cervix is
anesthetized, & dilation rods open the cervix
First-Trimester Surgical Abortion
 A cannula that is attached to a vacuum
aspirator is put into the cervix, the content of
the uterus is emptied
 Takes 4-6 minutes, with a few hour stay after
 After she needs to rest, bleeding and
cramping is likely
 Risks: excessive bleeding, infection, uterine
perforation
Second-Trimester Surgical Abortion
 Between 14-21 weeks
 11% of abortions
 Reasons for a late abortion: medical
complications, fetal deformity, divorce/marital
problems, miscalculation of due date,
financial or geographic problems
Second-Trimester Surgical Abortion
 Dilation & evacuation procedure: 13-16
weeks
 Similar to vacuum aspiration, but in a hospital
under general anesthesia
 15-30 minute procedure
 More complicated than 1st trimester, with
more pain, blood loss, & cervical trauma
Second-Trimester Surgical Abortion
 Induced labor procedure used in late 2nd
trimester
 Needle inserted into amniotic sac and drains
the fluid; the sac is injected with saline or
prostaglandin
 Fetus is delivered 19-22 hours later
 Can be painful emotionally & physically
 Risks: nausea, diarrhea, cervical problems,
uterine rupture, risk of death
Second-Trimester Surgical Abortion
 Hysterotomy – used in emergency situations
Abdomen is opened to remove the fetus
Similar to a cesarean section, with a 5-7
day hospital stay
 Hysterectomy – removal of the fetus and
uterus
Rarely used
Medical Abortion
 Two drugs:
Mifepristone (RU-486)
Methotrexate
 They are used with a prostaglandin to
produce contractions and expel the contents
 2-3 office visits are required; $350-650
 Advantages over surgical abortion: no
anesthesia; it seems more like a miscarriage
 Increased risk of bacterial infection
RU-486
 An antiprogestin that inhibits progesterone
production, breaking down the uterine lining
 3 RU-486 pills are taken; 2 days later the
prostaglandin is taken, which produces
uterine contractions
 95-97% effective
 Can be used up to 9 weeks gestation
 Mifepristone produces bleeding within 4-5
hours, and it continues for up to 13 days
Methotrexate
 Methotrexate produces bleeding that may last
1 month or more
 It is injected and ceases the development of
the zygote cells
 The prostaglandin produces contractions and
expels the uterine contents
 Can be used up to 9 weeks gestation
Reactions to Abortion
 Women’s Reactions
Physiological Symptoms
Psychological Symptoms
 Men’s Reactions
Women’s Reactions
 Physiological symptoms:
Surgeon General’s report found
physiological health consequences
(infertility, miscarriage, premature birth, low
birth weight) no more common in women
who have had abortions compared to the
general population of women
Immediately following the procedure:
cramping, heavy bleeding, nausea
Women’s Reactions
 Psychological symptoms:
A woman’s feelings are often correlated
with her society’s views on abortion
There is little known about reactions to
medical abortions
Many women cycle through feelings of
relief, happiness, shame, guilt, fear of
disapproval, regret, anxiety, depression,
doubt, anger, sense of loss, sadness
Women’s Reactions
 10% of cases a woman has severe feelings
 Factors in severe psychological symptoms:
Young
Lack family or partner support
Persuaded to have an abortion or difficult
time making the decision
Strong religious & moral background
Medical or genetic reasons for abortion
History of psychiatric problems
Men’s Reactions
 Abortion may cause couples to break up or
may increase communication in a relationship
and strengthen it
 Supportive partners are more positive
following the procedure
 Men can feel sadness, a sense of loss, fear
for partner’s well being, isolated, angry
 Men lack counseling services to help them
through this time
Teens and Abortion
 Some states require parental notification or
consent
 In lieu of that, they may request a judicial
bypass option
 In states without mandatory parental
involvement, 75% of minors involve at least
one parent in the process
Cross-Cultural Aspects of Abortion
 About 40% of worldwide pregnancies are
unplanned
 20% are aborted
 Lowest abortion rates are in Ireland,
Netherlands, Belgium, & Spain
 Highest abortion rates are in Cuba, Vietnam,
Romania, & India
 1.3 million abortions each year in the U.S.
Cross-Cultural Aspects of Abortion
 25% of countries have strong restrictions on
abortion
 20 million unsafe abortions occur each year
by taking drugs, inserting objects into the
vagina or flushing it with liquids, or forcefully
massaging the abdomen
 Medical abortion is widely used outside the
U.S.