(1620) Effects of Abortion

A year and a half ago, I had an abortion, brought about by medical means. Since then the menstrual flow, though regular, has been scant and dark, with mucus. I have taken estrogenic (female) hormones by injection for some months. The uterus is tipped back, ever since my miscarriage. Do you think I should continue this treatment, or have a curettement? The doctor says the uterus is larger than it should be. Or will a major operation be necessary?

Poisoning, whether from a natural illness or drugs, may cause miscarriage. Part of the products of pregnancy may remain and cause internal trouble by infection.

Q. 1620. Poisoning, whether from a natural illness or drugs, may cause miscarriage. Part of the products of pregnancy may remain and cause internal trouble by infection.

Mrs. O. G., California.

Answer:

Your condition is, in all probability, the result of the abortion, which was perhaps performed in an unskilled manner; and it is quite possible that some residual tissue was left in the uterus. Or it may be that the chemicals which were injected caused some intra-uterine condition.

I have serious doubts as to whether the estrogenic hormones will be of any benefit to you. A curettement, or scraping, of the womb will probably be necessary to restore the proper normal menstrual function; and this should be performed only by a skilled gynecologist, under the most aseptic conditions, preferably in a hospital.

-Editor.

(1615) Emmenagogues

Will taking drugs when you are less than two weeks late in menstruating make you guilty of getting rid of a baby, or will it just bring on the natural flow quicker?

Mrs. D. D., Indiana,

Answer :

Drugs used to bring on the menstrual flow are called emmenagogues, and are quite dangerous to use for the purposes you state in your letter. Any method of interrupting a pregnancy is known as an abortion, no matter how early the pregnancy is. Serious hemorrhages often are produced by such drugs which frequently are extremely dangerous to life.

I must say, however, that most emmenagogues are useless, once conception has taken place.

Then, too, it is not infrequent for a "period" to be skipped, as a result of gland conditions, a slight illness, or even mere nervousness, in the absence of pregnancy. This is even more common in unmarried young women.

-Editor.