Consequences of Unintended Pregnancy

Unintended pregnancies are common among young people. They occur because contraception fails, condoms break, or partners do not use protection consistently. These unintended pregnancies can lead to serious health consequences for both mother and child. This book explores the causes of unintended pregnancy and describes the consequences of having an unwanted baby. It provides information about safe abortions and discusses ways to prevent unplanned pregnancies.

Unwanted pregnancies happen when couples don’t follow safe sex practices. In such cases, there are best measures one should consider taking to avoid complications like miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Read on to know more about them.

The book includes information about the following topics:

Causes of unintended pregnancy

Consequences of unintended pregnancy

Abortion options

Contraception

Self-induced abortion

Safe abortion

Prevention of unintended pregnancy

 Causes of unintended pregnancy

An unintended pregnancy occurs when a woman does not want to become pregnant at all, or when she wants to have a baby but her partner does not want one. The most important cause of unintended pregnancy is failure to use effective birth control methods. Other causes include:

Being sexually active without using contraception

Having sex with someone who has an STI (sexually transmitted infection)

Not knowing that you are pregnant until it is too late

Using ineffective contraceptive methods

Having intercourse during menstruation

Failure to use contraceptives correctly

Having sex before ovulation

Having sex on days other than your menstrual period

Having sex while taking medication to treat an STD

Having sex after stopping treatment for an STD

Having unprotected sex with more than one person

Consequences of unintended pregnancy

If a woman becomes pregnant unintentionally, there are many possible outcomes. Some women choose to keep their babies; others decide they don’t want them. A few women give up their babies for adoption. Most women who carry their babies to term will deliver healthy babies. However, some women experience complications during childbirth. If a woman chooses to get an abortion, she may feel relief or regret. She may also be able to resume normal activities sooner if she gets an early abortion.

Abortion Options

There are three main types of abortion procedures: surgical, medical, and chemical. Surgical abortion involves removing the contents of the uterus through surgery. Medical abortion uses drugs to induce miscarriage. Chemical abortion uses pills or herbs to induce miscarriage. All three types of abortion involve risks. Women should discuss these options with their doctor.

Surgical abortion

A surgical abortion is performed by inserting a sharp instrument into the vagina and uterus. The procedure takes less time than a medical abortion. But it carries greater risk of bleeding and infection. In addition, the woman must wait several weeks before resuming sexual activity.

Medical abortion

Medical abortion is usually done within 10 weeks of conception. It is safer and easier than surgical abortion. During this type of abortion, two medications are taken orally. One drug stops the embryo from growing. The second drug induces contractions of the uterine muscles. Both drugs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Chemical abortion

Chemicals called RU486 and mifepristone are used to induce abortion. Mifepristone blocks prog.

Contraception

The best way to prevent pregnancy is to avoid having sex. Birth control methods can help reduce the chances of getting pregnant. They work by preventing sperm from reaching the egg. There are different kinds of birth control methods available. Each method works differently. For example, condoms protect against both pregnancy and disease. Oral contraceptives contain hormones that stop ovulation. Hormonal IUDs contain hormones that block fertilization. Barrier methods such as diaphragms and cervical caps prevent sperm from entering the cervix. Natural family planning helps couples plan when they have sex.

Pregnancy Tests

You can test for pregnancy at home using a urine test kit. You can buy pregnancy tests over-the-counter. These kits are easy to use. You just pee on a stick and read the results. 

Self-induced abortion

You can perform a self-induced abortion at home. This is often done with a combination of herbal medicines and other substances. Self-induced abortions are dangerous because you do not know how much medicine you are taking. You could overdose on medication. You could also cause serious health problems. Your body might reject the fetus. Or your baby could die.

Adoption

Women who cannot afford to raise children sometimes turn to adoption. Adoptions are arranged privately between parents and adoptive families. An agency provides information about adopting children. Adoptive parents provide homes for children. Adopted children receive love and support from new families.

Safe abortion

If you want an abortion, you may be able to get one safely. Abortion clinics offer safe abortions. Most clinics require women to see a physician first. Some clinics allow women to make appointments online. Others require women to come in person. Many clinics offer free services. Before going to an abortion clinic, talk with your doctor. He or she will explain what kind of abortion is right for you. If needed, he or she will prescribe medicine to ease cramps.

Prevention of unintended pregnancy

Abstinence is the only sure way to prevent pregnancy. Abstinence means no sex without protection. Condoms are the most effective form of contraception. Other forms include oral contraceptive pills, hormonal injections, implants, patches, and rings. All these methods prevent pregnancy. However, some people choose not to use any form of contraception.

Other ways to prevent pregnancy

Some people think that abstinence is too difficult. They believe that it is better to practice safer sex. Safer sex includes using condoms, birth control pills, or other methods of contraception. The pill prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation. Condoms prevent pregnancy by blocking sperm. Both methods are very effective.

Abortion as a Consequence Of Unintended Pregnancy

In the United States, abortion is legal up until 24 weeks gestation. However, there are exceptions for cases where the mother’s life is in danger, or she is unable to carry the baby to term due to health complications. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, abortions make up about 15% of pregnancies in the US. This statistic is based on data collected over the course of several decades.

The CDC reports that there were 4,839 maternal deaths in 2016. Of those, 3,918 occurred during childbirth and 921 occurred during pregnancy. While many of these deaths could be attributed to medical conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and substance abuse, some were caused by illegal induced abortions.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, there were 2.3 million abortions performed in the US in 2017. Of those, nearly half (49%) were done because women did not want to become pregnant, while another 40% were done because the woman had already given birth once. The remaining 11% were done because of fetal abnormalities.

Legalizing abortion does not necessarily mean that fewer people die from pregnancy-related causes. Rather, it simply means that women are able to access safe, legal procedures to terminate unwanted pregnancies.

Medical Complications

Abortion carries risks, even if it is performed safely. A recent study found that women who have had multiple abortions have lower rates of carrying a baby to term. Researchers looked at data from over 2 million births in California and New York between 2000 and 2010. They compared women who had one abortion to those who had three or more. In both states, women who had three or more abortions were less likely to deliver a live birth. This suggests that having multiple abortions reduces the chances of carrying a child to full term.

The researchers did find some evidence that women who have had abortions are more likely to develop certain medical complications during pregnancy. For example, there was a small increase in risk of preterm labor among women who had multiple abortions. However, the number of cases was very low. Overall, the findings suggest that women who have had several abortions do not face increased health risks.

The Effects of Intendedness

Unintended pregnancies occur when couples do not use contraception consistently or correctly. They can happen because of contraceptive failure, inconsistent condom use, or lack of access to contraceptives. In fact, one out of every four pregnancies in the United States is unintended.

Intended pregnancies occur when couples decide to become parents together. These pregnancies often involve planning and preparation. However, some couples choose to wait to start trying until later in life. Others may try to avoid becoming pregnant altogether.

In addition to the physical and emotional challenges of carrying a baby to term, unintended pregnancies pose significant social and economic burdens. For example, women who have an unplanned or mistimed pregnancy are more likely to experience poverty, unemployment, domestic violence, and mental illness.

Unintended Pregnancy  Reproductive Health

Pregnancy Prevention

Women who choose to delay or prevent pregnancy should be offered a wide range of FDA-approved contraceptives, including long-acting reversible contraception like intrauterine devices (IUDs), implants, injectables, and sterilization procedures such as tubal ligation. These options help protect against unintended pregnancies and reduce the risk of complications during childbirth.

A woman’s health care provider can advise about the best choice based on her individual circumstances. For example, she might recommend a particular type of IUD because it offers protection over a longer period of time. She could also discuss whether another form of birth control is appropriate for you, depending on factors such as your age, medical history, current use of medications, and previous experience with hormonal contraception.

Contraceptive counseling helps women make choices that are right for them. This includes learning how different forms of contraception work, understanding side effects, and choosing a method that fits into their lifestyle.

Policy Solutions for Preventing Unplanned Pregnancy

The United States spends billions of dollars each year trying to reduce teen births and unintended pregnancies. But there are many barriers to getting teens the information and resources they need to make smart decisions about sex and birth control. This report examines how policies could help address those challenges.

More than half of all pregnancies are unintended. In fact, nearly one out of every four pregnancies in the United States is unplanned. And teenage girls are most vulnerable to becoming pregnant unintentionally. For example, among 15-19 year olds, the number of unintended pregnancies increased by 17% between 2008 and 2013.

Teenage girls are often unaware that they can use contraceptives without parental consent. They may assume that they must tell their parents if they plan to use hormonal methods like condoms or birth control pills. Or they might believe that they cannot take birth control pills because they are still growing into adulthood.

Expanding access to contraception reduces unintentional pregnancy. A recent study found that expanding contraceptive coverage to teenagers increases the likelihood that they will use it correctly and consistently.

Many young people don’t think about preventing pregnancy until later in life. Some delay starting sexual activity due to concerns about what others might say or do. Others worry about being judged negatively by peers or adults. Still others fear that they won’t find someone willing to date them.

Publicly funded family planning services provide free or low-cost access to comprehensive reproductive health care. These programs offer a variety of contraceptive methods, including hormonal methods, barrier methods, emergency contraception, and sterilization.

In addition, some states have passed laws requiring insurers to cover certain preventive services at no cost to consumers. The Affordable Care Act requires insurance plans sold through the federal marketplace to include these services without any co-payments or deductibles.