How To Avoid Pregnancy After One Month?

While pregnancy is happy news for many couples, it can be stressful for some. An unplanned pregnancy can be overwhelming, and deciding on the future course of action can be difficult. The likelihood of effectively terminating a pregnancy is mostly influenced by your general health and well-being and the stage of your pregnancy. Before having the operation, be careful to discuss it with your doctor. Your future pregnancy attempts will be less likely to experience difficulties. If you want to know how to avoid 1 month pregnancy, here’s what you should know.

How to Stop Pregnancy After One Month?

How to stop pregnancy in one month? There are two ways to stop pregnancy after one month – a medical abortion or a surgical abortion. As the term suggests, medical abortion involves using medication to interrupt a pregnancy’s progress. Medicines are best because they are non-invasive in nature.

Methods to Stop Pregnancy Without a Surgical Abortion

There is no way you can stop pregnancy without abortion. But it’s possible to bypass the surgical intervention.

1. Medical Abortion

In this, prescribed medicines are used to stop foetal development. Tablets containing mifepristone and misoprostol are generally recommended. They must be taken one after the other with a short interval. After this, uterine contractions take place and lead to the expulsion of the foetus. It’s accompanied by bleeding that can last up to two weeks. You may have to visit your doctor thrice during this period to verify the progress of the abortion.

Who Shouldn’t Go for Medical Abortion?

Medical abortion isn’t the right choice if:

• You’re over 9 weeks pregnant.
• You’re prone to adrenal failure or have a blood clotting disorder.
• You have an intact IUD.
• You take medicines that can interfere with medical abortion.
• You don’t have access to a doctor or hospital.

2. Herbal Abortion

Quite a few women opt for herbs to stop pregnancy. Though there are plenty of such remedies available, they are an unsafe method of pregnancy termination. Herbs such as yarrow (scientific name achillea millefolium) when consumed in a certain amount can cause miscarriage. It can also worsen any bleeding disorders if present.

3. Hormonal Abortion

In this process, hormones like prostaglandin are injected into the uterus to induce premature labour. This causes the death and subsequent expulsion of the foetus.

4. Saline Water Method

Yet another intrusive procedure, saline water is injected into the womb to bring about dehydration. Salt injections poison the foetus.

Home Remedies for Abortion After 1 Month

There are some tried and tested natural remedies to stop pregnancy in the early stage. These are:

1. Papaya

Unripe papaya has benefits as well as drawbacks for pregnant women. Rich in oxytocin and prostaglandin, this fruit brings about uterine contractions during labour. The fruit is also a source of phytochemicals that can impair progesterone activity. However, it doesn’t cause abortion every time this method is used.

2. Cinnamon

Another popular home remedy to stop pregnancy is raw cinnamon or cinnamon supplements. The compounds in cinnamon can induce labour. Since cinnamon supplements may cause an allergic reaction, consult a doctor before moving ahead.

3. Pineapple 

Bromelain, a proteolytic enzyme found in pineapples, can soften the cervix. It is believed that eating the flesh of immature fruit could induce a spontaneous miscarriage.

4. Sesame Seeds

They can be eaten with honey or combined with palm jaggery. A specific dose is believed to raise the body temperature and trigger contractions.

5. Green Tea and Chamomile

Another long-held belief is that excessive chamomile or green tea drinking might cause uterine contractions.

6. Heavy Workout

Some people also believe that heavy-weight or strenuous exercises, like crunches and sit-ups, can lead to abortion. Yet, no credible scientific studies support this widely held notion.

Surgical Abortion

Surgical abortion has been used for over four decades. Though it’s a quick procedure, it must be done by a qualified doctor in a hospital or clinic. It can be performed at any time during the first trimester.

What Is Surgical Abortion?

In a surgical abortion, instruments are used to carry out the procedure. You will be administered a local anaesthetic, and medications will be given during and after the procedure. You should ask your spouse to accompany you to the clinic.

Procedure

Any type of surgical abortion may be used based on how far your pregnancy has progressed. Vacuum aspiration can be performed in the first month of pregnancy and up to 16 weeks while dilation and evacuation (D&E) can be performed after 16 weeks. Dilation and extraction (D&X) can be performed after 21 weeks. We explain these methods in brief below:

1. Vacuum/Suction Aspiration (6-16 Weeks)

Vacuum aspiration, also called suction aspiration and suction curettage, is a method in which a dilator is used to open the cervix after administration of a local anaesthetic. The cervix is held in place with the help of forceps of various sizes. Then, a thin tube, which is attached to a pump, is inserted into the uterus through the cervix. The pump, which may be manually or electrically operated, is used to suction out the contents of the uterus. This is followed by bleeding similar to a menstrual period.

Though the procedure takes only 15 minutes, you may have to stay in the hospital for a few hours. The doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to keep infections away.

You’ll experience some side effects after suction aspiration is carried out. Dizziness, cramping, nausea, and sweating are a few examples. Some women also have extended or heavy bleeding, blood clots, cervical damage, and perforation of the uterus. If any tissue has been left behind in the uterus, there are chances of an infection. If you develop fever, pain or any kind of abdominal tenderness, you should immediately contact your doctor.

2. Dilation & Evacuation (D&E) (After 16 Weeks)

This is another type of surgical abortion, which involves inserting a synthetic dilator into the cervix 24 hours before the surgery. First, an injection is given to ensure fetal death. The cervix is then dilated using aspiration, and a tube is inserted to remove the uterine lining. A curette and suction device help to scrape out the lining.

This procedure takes about half an hour and antibiotics are prescribed to prevent infections.

3. Dilation & Evacuation (After 21 Weeks)

D&X is used only when there are complications with the pregnancy. A doctor might deliver the baby by using medical methods or introducing foleys with an abortifacient solution.

Medical Abortion vs Suction Aspiration

Medical abortion can be conducted up to 10 weeks from the first day of the last period while suction aspiration can be done upto 12 weeks. In both these procedures, cramping and discomfort, like that experienced during a heavy menstrual period, are to be expected. Both these techniques have an approximate 99 percent success rate. If a medical abortion fails, then you will need to get a suction aspiration. When a suction aspiration fails, it might have to be repeated.

Risks

The risk of health complications in a medical abortion is at least 10 times less than that in continuing a pregnancy. It is very rare to see major problems in this type of termination. The pills used for medical abortions have been in circulation since the 1980s. The risk factors for surgical aspirations are also the same. They are safest in the first eight weeks and problems are almost non-existent when done in the first trimester.

Advantages

In medical abortions, there is no need for anaesthesia, surgical instruments or even a visit to the hospital. It feels more like a natural miscarriage and can be done early in the pregnancy. Aspiration abortions see much less bleeding and can be done even if the pregnancy has progressed.

Disadvantages

Medical abortions need at least two days and bleeding can last up to two weeks. Aspiration abortions are more invasive and require the use of anaesthesia. Therefore they are also susceptible to anesthesia side effects.

What Are Some Possible Complications of Abortion?

Abortions are safe only when the healthcare professional follows the essential steps to complete the entire process. In the absence of that, the following problems may arise:

• Infected pregnancy
• Foetal tissues still in the womb
• The failure to terminate
• Severe bleeding that could require receiving blood transfusions
• Cervical injury
• Damage to the womb
• Risks to mental health

Recovering From Abortion

Abortion or termination of pregnancy is an emotionally and physically draining experience. It’s essential to get rest and nutrition and gradually return to normalcy. Your doctor will advise you to take time off from work and avoid exercising for a while. You’ll need to keep yourself hydrated with lots of water and fluids. Your food must be balanced, healthy, and have a good dose of minerals, vitamins, and proteins. You should refrain from sexual intercourse until your mind and heart are ready. Once you have gone ahead with the termination of pregnancy, stop thinking about it and don’t feel guilty or negative. Vent out your feelings by talking to a near and dear one, your doctor, or by jotting down your thoughts in a diary. Your doctor will also guide you about preventing pregnancy after 1 month. So adhere to the guidance and take care of your body.

The decision to prevent or terminate a pregnancy is yours to make and it’s best to do it in consultation with a doctor. This can help to prevent infections and any long-term complications. If you do this on your own and encounter complications such as excessive bleeding or unusual pain, then don’t hesitate to seek medical help immediately! Also, use adequate contraception and birth control measures to prevent the need for abortions in future. Too many abortions can take a toll on your health and lead to problems in carrying a pregnancy to term in future.

References/Resources:

1. Kumar. S, Antony. ZK, Kapur. A, et al.; Termination of Pregnancy in First Trimester – Medical Option; PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4922947/; July 2011

2. Abortion; World Health Organization; https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abortion; November 2021

3. Maitre. SC, Bouchard. P, Spitz. IM; Medical Termination of Pregnancy; The New England Journal of Medicine; https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM200003303421307; March 2000

4. Ashok. PW, Kidd. A, Flett. G.M.M, et al.; A randomized comparison of medical abortion and surgical vacuum aspiration at 10–13 weeks gestation; Human Reproduction; https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/17/1/92/554118; January 2022

Also Read:

Ways to Have a Miscarriage Naturally
What Are the Types of Abortion Procedures?
Natural and Safe Home Remedies for Abortion
Abortion Pills – How Does it Work, Side Effects & Risks