Self-induced Abortion Research Articles

The course of pregnancy in patients with artificial heart valves

Twenty-five women with prosthetic heart valves (PHV) became pregnant 28 times. Twenty-six of the pregnancies occurred while the patients were receiving oral anticoagulants and these were continued throughout in 25 pregnancies. Dipyridamole or dipyridamole and acetylsalicylic acid were used in 22 pregnancies. Eighteen infants were delivered, one with a congenital corneal leukoma; none had hemorrhagic complications; their psychomotor development was normal. Nine women aborted 10 times, including patients with two PHV, pelvic trauma and self-induced abortion. We could not detect excess anticoagulation in eight of the nine who had spontaneous losses; excess anticoagulation occurred five weeks before an abortion. There were no maternal deaths despite numerous complications; in two women, brain embolism was related to short interruptions of anticoagulation. The details of management are mentioned. We lack enough evidence to suggest routine sterilization, routine interruption of coumarin therapy during pregnancy or routine interruption of pregnancy in women with certain types and models of PHV; however, pregnancy under such conditions, plus antithrombotic therapy, carries a high risk for the product and a potential teratogenic effect. Women with one or two PHV can have children if their management is closely supervised and if extreme care is taken with the use of oral anticoagulants.

Female genital self-mutilation as a cause of vaginal bleeding

Summary While self-mutilation in the form of wrist and arm cutting is relatively common and genital self-mutilation in men is well recognized, female genital self-mutilation seems to be strikingly rare. With the exception of injuries secondary to frank self-induced abortion or the insertions of foreign bodies in children, only three cases of female genital self-mutilation have been reported in the literature so far. It is suggested that the phenomenon may not be as rare as hitherto supposed and therefore a further case is reported.

Self-Induced Abortion Complicated by Gangrene of the Uterus and Anuria

Self-Induced Abortion Complicated by Gangrene of the Uterus and Anuria

Traumatic perforation of the uterus following attempted self-induced abortion with a rubber catheter

1. Four cases are herein reported in which a rubber catheter was introduced by the patient into the uterine cavity for the purpose of abortion. At laparotomy, in three of the cases, the major portion of the catheter was found in the peritoneal cavity, having perforated the uterine wall. In one case, the catheter was found in the uterine cavity.2. In the three cases of uterine perforation, the catheter was removed and the uterine rent was repaired. In the case of pregnancy and the catheter within the uterus, a hysterotomy was performed with removal of the uterine contents.3. Three of the patients aborted; the fourth, with the intact uterus, had a hysterotomy and evacuation of the uterine contents.4. All of the patients had an uneventful postoperative course following laparotomy.5. In all four cases the rubber catheter was visualized on x-ray.

Pulmonary embolism by powdered household-mustard incident to self-induced abortion.

Pulmonary embolism by powdered household-mustard incident to self-induced abortion.

Criminal abortion.

CRIMINAL ABORTIONAbortion, legally defined, is the premature expulsion of the fetus before the term of gestation is complete. The law does not differentiate abortion, miscarriage and premature delivery. Criminal abortion is the unlawful expulsion of the fetus by artificial means. It is a felony when any person advises, assists in or performs an abortion. Some states place self-induced abortion in a similar category. Death of the mother upon whom an abortion has been performed is homicide. Physicians failing to report known or suspected cases of abortion are open to suspicion of complicity and technically to criminal prosecution. It is . . .

The Relation of Abortion to Cancer of the Uterus.

North Platte, Neb., Jan. 31, 1907. To the Editor: —In looking over several articles on cancer of the uterus recently published inThe JournalI find, that in giving the causes of uterine cancer, two things were not considered, which I believe to be either predisposing or exciting causes of this disease. I refer to self-induced abortions and miscarriages and to office treatments. My purpose is simply to call attention to two things which I think play an important part in the etiology of uterine cancer. It can be understood how the trauma incident to an abortion self induced, with a crochet hook, pencil or some such instrument, could furnish the necessary conditions for the starting point of cancer. I think it would have a wholesome effect on the minds of some of our female patients if the fact became generally known to the laity that an abortion may result

Self-Induced Instrumental Abortion

Self-Induced Instrumental Abortion

Self-Induced Instrumental Abortion

Self-Induced Instrumental Abortion

Self-Induced Instrumental Abortion

Self-Induced Instrumental Abortion

Self-Induced Instrumental Abortion

Self-Induced Instrumental Abortion

Self-Induced Instrumental Abortion

Self-Induced Instrumental Abortion