This article is professionally consulted by Bui Minh Phuc, Specialist Doctor level II Bui Minh Phuc - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.
Vacuum aspiration is a highly safe abortion method compared to many other abortion methods for pregnancies under 12 weeks of gestation. However, vacuum aspiration still carries a potential risk of complications, and it is important to recognize early signs of abnormalities if they occur and seek medical attention.
1. Vacuum aspiration is a relatively safe abortion method
Vacuum aspiration is performed for women who need an abortion under 12 weeks of gestation (calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period).
In general, vacuum aspiration is a safe and reliable method due to the use of a vacuum device to terminate the pregnancy. However, to ensure safety, vacuum aspiration must be performed by trained medical personnel with the necessary skills to perform the procedure.
Vacuum aspiration has an effectiveness rate of over 98% and is highly safe, so it is now applied in many hospitals and clinics. The procedure is performed as follows:
- Medical staff will perform a pelvic examination.
- Medical staff will ask some questions about your health, explain the procedure, safety level, and other issues of the procedure, and give advice on contraception.
- You need to sign a consent form for abortion, and then take pain medication.
- During the procedure, the medical staff will insert a speculum into the vagina (which may cause the patient to feel a slight tightness where the speculum is placed).
- The medical staff will perform cervical anesthesia (the patient may feel a tingling sensation at the injection site).
- Medical staff use a vacuum device to aspirate the fetal tissue.
- The patient will be awake during the procedure and will only feel slight pain due to uterine contractions.
- Uterine contractions will increase as the procedure nears completion but will subside immediately after the procedure is completed.
- The vacuum aspiration procedure will take about 5-10 minutes.
After the vacuum aspiration procedure, the medical staff will monitor the patient's recovery for 30 minutes, and if there are no problems, the patient can then go home.
Usually, people who have undergone vacuum aspiration will experience bleeding and uterine contractions for a few days after the procedure. This manifestation may resemble a normal menstrual period. If you experience excessive bleeding or other abnormalities, you should contact a medical facility.
After an abortion by vacuum aspiration, patients will be prescribed medication as directed by the medical staff. Use sanitary napkins during bleeding until it stops, change the pad regularly as with a normal menstrual period. After abortion, you can bathe normally, there is no need to abstain from any type of food but should have a full diet, rest properly, and have a relaxed mind.
2. Complications that may occur after vacuum aspiration
Although the success rate is high, there are still cases where vacuum aspiration fails, leaving residual products, and requiring a repeat procedure
In terms of complications, vacuum aspiration is a much safer abortion method compared to surgical curettage, however, a small rate of complications can still occur.
Possible complications include:
- Infection, requiring additional antibiotics
- Excessive bleeding causes weakness, fatigue or dizziness. This complication is very rare and usually only requires rest and medical treatment.
- Cervical injury, which requires surgical intervention to treat.
- Retention of placental tissue, fetal tissue.
- Uterine perforation
- Uterine adhesions
3. Warning signs of complications
In rare cases, after vacuum aspiration, medical staff do not observe any complications, but when the patient returns home, complications may appear. However, it is necessary to pay special attention and return for a check-up if you notice the following signs:
- Severe and increasing abdominal pain.
- Excessive bleeding or bleeding that lasts more than a week with no reduction in blood volume.
- Fever or chills.
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge or blood.
After vacuum aspiration, there may be prolonged bleeding for several weeks, but the amount of bleeding must decrease gradually. Dull lower abdominal pain and backache are due to the uterus gradually contracting back to its normal size after the abortion, and at the same time expelling all remaining blood from the uterine cavity. The pain varies depending on each individual, but if the pain is severe and causes discomfort, you should see a doctor immediately.
Usually, the doctor will ask the patient to return for a follow-up visit 2 weeks after the vacuum aspiration.
Vacuum aspiration is a safe and minimally invasive abortion method that women should choose to perform. If you notice any signs of complications after vacuum aspiration, patients should return for examination to identify and resolve the cause.
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