Dilatation

----------------------- Dilatation & Evacuation (D&E) • Prior to a D&E, the cervix is prepared. Misoprostol softens the cervix and dilators are placed inside the cervix to slowly stretch the cervix open. • Clients who have a pregnancy of 22 weeks or more will have an additional procedure carried out the day before the surgery. The doctor will put a needle into the uterus and inject medicine to stop the fetal heart. This may be carried out under local anaesthetic or a light general anaesthetic. The client may be able to go home and return to the clinic the following day for removal of the pregnancy. • The D&E is performed in an operating theatre under a light general anaesthetic. • Forceps are used to remove the pregnancy and any remaining tissue is removed using vacuum aspiration. • An overnight stay is not required. Most women are fit to leave the clinic within 6 hours of arriving. Is there any risk' • Abortion procedures, especially in the early weeks of pregnancy are very safe but no clinical procedure is entirely without its risk. There is no long term proven association between abortion and any ectopic pregnancy or infertility. What about infection' • One of the highest risks after an abortion is infection. All our clients are given a course of antibiotics to minimise this risk. We also advise women to avoid having sex for two weeks after treatment and to use sanitary towels instead of tampons. It is normal for some women to experience some bleeding for several days after the abortion. How will I feel after the abortion' • Different women experience different feelings after an abortion and will cope in different ways. Many women find it useful to have someone with them after their abortion. Some women take time off work, while others feel able to go straight back the next day – both responses are quite normal. • After treatment, some women find that their hormones levels swing quite dramatically whilst their bodies adjust. This may result in mood changes and it is common for women to feel a bit sensitive and irritable. • After an abortion, some women feel a sense of loss, even if they believe their decision was right. Others may feel relief. Will I need counselling' All women are different and there is no standard amount of time that it takes for a women to put her abortion experience behind her. Bpas can provide post-abortion counselling at any time after an abortion