CMV infection during pregnancy and impact on fetal health

 What is miscarriage?

 A miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy, either a spontaneous abortion or a medical abortion. Spontaneous miscarriage is the miscarriage of a pregnancy before the twentieth week, due to the fetus not growing as expected, and in rare cases due to something going wrong with the continuation of the pregnancy.

Medical abortion is a procedure used to terminate a pregnancy, either by taking medication or by performing surgery.

Medical abortion is a safe option during the first trimester of pregnancy and is performed either in the clinic, or at home, with the need for medical follow-up.

What are the symptoms of miscarriage?

As for the first type of miscarriage, which is spontaneous miscarriage, which often occurs before the twelfth week of pregnancy, it occurs accompanied by indicators, and among the symptoms of miscarriage we find: pain in the abdomen or lower back, vaginal bleeding, discharge of fluids or tissue from the vagina, and expulsion of fetal tissue. From the vagina (put it in a clean container and take it to the clinic or hospital for analysis).

  What are the causes of miscarriage?

The causes of miscarriage vary depending on its type. Among the causes of spontaneous miscarriage or miscarriage, we find: the fetus does not grow as expected, damage to the egg (formation of a fetus), death of the fetus inside the uterus, and molar pregnancy (abnormal growth of the placenta without the growth of the fetus). The mother’s health condition, such as infections, hormonal problems, uterine or cervical problems, in addition to thyroid disease and uncontrolled diabetes.

The reasons for medical abortion or elective termination of pregnancy are the result of various factors, such as age, health condition, social and economic status, lack of desire to become pregnant (accidental pregnancy), the woman suffering from a medical condition that makes the pregnancy life-threatening, and the fetus having a serious medical condition.

Abortion methods

Spontaneous abortion occurs in circumstances beyond the mother’s control, but medical abortion occurs at her will, and in consultation with her doctor, who chooses the most appropriate method for her health condition.

First, before undergoing an abortion, an ultrasound examination is performed to find out how many weeks pregnant it is, as it is safer to perform it early. Here are the methods of abortion according to the NHS:

1. Medical abortion

Medical abortion involves taking medications to end the pregnancy. These medications include two pill medications, usually 24 to 48 hours apart.

The doctor provides these medications in his clinic, and the patient will need to visit the doctor at least twice: once before taking the medications and once after completing treatment to ensure the abortion was successful.

The most common medications for medical abortion are a medication that blocks the action of the hormone progesterone, which is important for pregnancy, and another medication that stimulates the uterus to contract and empty.

Medical abortions take up to 24 hours to complete, and may be followed by some discomfort and vaginal bleeding for up to two weeks.

The effectiveness of medical abortion is up to 95% in helping to complete the pregnancy without the need for surgery. This type of abortion is usually only available until the 11th week of the last menstrual period.

2. Surgical abortion

Surgical abortion is an in-clinic procedure in which the doctor removes pregnancy tissue from the uterus. There are two types of surgical abortion:

Aspiration abortion: It is the most common type, in which gentle suction is used to empty the uterus. It is performed during the 14th to 16th week after the last menstrual period.

D&C abortion: Suction and surgical instruments are used to empty the uterus. The doctor expands and evacuates the woman's uterus, and the procedure is considered 99% successful.