Abortion in Shanghai China

An abortion is the medical process of ending a pregnancy so it does not result in the birth of a baby. Abortion is also sometimes known as a termination or a termination of pregnancy. Depending on how many weeks you have been pregnant, the pregnancy is ended either by taking medication or by having a surgical procedure. An abortion is not the same as a miscarriage, where the pregnancy ends without medical intervention (although medical treatment may be needed after a miscarriage).

Why an abortion may be needed

There are many reasons why a woman might decide to have an abortion including:

• personal circumstances
• a health risk to the mother
• a high probability that the baby will have a medical condition

Abortion in Shanghai China

If you want to have an abortion, you may find it beneficial to discuss your options with a healthcare professional. You will usually need to be referred to a specialist service that deals with abortion.

If you do not want to ask your GP to refer you for an abortion, you can go to your local family planning clinic or GUM clinic. Some doctors at these clinics can refer women for an abortion, but if they cannot, they must refer you to another doctor.

In some areas, you may also be able to refer yourself to your local Pregnancy Advisory Service, without first getting a referral from a local doctor. However, it does help to talk to other healthcare professionals, such as your GP or contraception clinic nurse, as well.

In some cases, the insurance will pay for abortions at private clinics, but in other cases you may need to pay to have an abortion at a private clinic.

Private Abortions

You can contact a private abortion clinic without being referred by a doctor. However, the insurance may not pay for this. If you are considering having an abortion, it is important to talk to somebody about it as soon as possible.

Costs for abortions in private clinics vary and will depend on:

• the organization or company that carries out the abortion
• the stage of pregnancy (earlier abortions are usually less expensive)
• whether an overnight stay is needed
• the method of abortion used

Abortion Risks

No clinical procedure is entirely risk free, but abortion poses few risks to a woman's physical health, particularly when carried out during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Having an abortion will not usually affect your chances of becoming pregnant and having normal pregnancies in future. The risk of problems occurring during an abortion is low. However, there are more likely to be problems if an abortion is carried out later in a pregnancy.

The risks associated with abortions are:

• haemorrhage (excessive bleeding) - occurs in about 1 in every 1,000 abortions
• damage to the cervix (the entrance of the womb) - occurs in no more than 10 in every 1,000 abortions
• damage to the womb - occurs in up to 4 in every 1,000 abortions during surgical abortion, and less than 1 in 1,000 medical abortions that are carried out at 12-24 weeks