Safe abortion methods

At DKT Mekong, we believe that every woman should have the freedom to make a decision when it comes to having children. Every woman should have a choice.

What is Safe Abortion?

Safe abortion refers to the termination of a pregnancy using an approved method in an environment that adheres to appropriate medical standards and guidelines. Using approved methods to end a pregnancy, minimizes the risks to the woman’s health and well-being.  

Unsafe abortion, refers to procedures that are performed by individuals lacking the necessary skills or in environments that do not conform to medical standards. Unsafe abortions can result in serious health complications and are a significant cause of maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. 

While the choice of abortion method should be based on what is best for you, the important thing is to make sure you choose a safe method. 

The safe methods, as recognized by the World Health Organization, are:

Aspiration abortion, also known as surgical abortion:

– Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA)

Medical abortion (with pills) – up to 12 weeks of gestation 

– Mifepristone and Misoprostol 

– Misoprostol alone when mifepristone is not available 

Manual Vacuum Aspiration

Method Overview

What is Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA)? 

  • Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) is a procedure in which a healthcare provider uses a handheld device (an aspirator) to remove the contents from the uterus. The World Health Organization recognizes MVA as a critical method for providing a safe abortion.

How does MVA work? 

  • MVA uses gentle suction to empty the uterus. It can be performed with a handheld vacuum. 

Who can provide MVA? 

  • MVA can be provided by any trained healthcare provider, including specialists, general care providers, nurses, and midwives. Vacuum aspiration, including MVA, is recommended by leading gynecological and obstetric organizations, such as the World Health Organization and FIGO (the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics), for abortion care and miscarriage management.

How is the MVA procedure performed? 

  • The healthcare provider should discuss methods of abortion with you so you can make an informed decision about whether to proceed with MVA or medication abortion. They will typically offer you some painkiller pills to swallow before the procedure and discuss other methods of pain control such as local anesthetic injections (paracervical blocks).  
  • The healthcare provider will insert a speculum into your vagina to examine and clean the cervix. They can then inject anesthetic into the cervix and surrounding tissues; this may sting initially but will numb the surrounding area. Next, the provider will insert a narrow tube through the cervix into the uterus and attach it to a suction device. This will empty the uterus. This may be uncomfortable, and most women experience mild to moderate cramping during this step of the procedure (which generally lasts 5 to 10 minutes). The cramping typically decreases once the tube is removed from the uterus.  
  • The healthcare provider will ask you to stay under observation for the next 30-60 minutes after the procedure and then you should be free to go back home. You do not have to be accompanied by a relative or a friend if you have had a local anesthetic, though you may want to have someone to support. Also, do not hesitate to talk with your healthcare provider if you have any questions or feel any discomfort. They can provide or recommend analgesia for pain relief.  
  • After the procedure, it is advised to rest quietly for the rest of the day. Depending on how you feel, you can restart your daily activities as soon as the following day. During the first two weeks, it is normal to experience irregular bleeding or spotting; we advise using pads instead of tampons. You might also experience cramps like your menstruations for several days after. 

Product line – Ipas Manual Vacuum Aspirator

At DKT Mekong, we proudly serve as the legal manufacturer of Ipas MVA Technologies, embodying our commitment to providing women with safe and reputable reproductive healthcare solutions. The Ipas line of aspirators, also recognized as manual vacuum aspirators, is specifically designed with the well-being of women in mind. These easy-to-operate, hand-held vacuums utilize suction to gently remove uterine contents through the cervix, with the cannula being sold separately. This innovative technology aligns with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) for managing various aspects of abortion, including incomplete, missed, or induced abortion.

Ipas MVA Plus Aspirator

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Ipas Single Valve Aspirator

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As the authorized manufacturers of the Ipas brand, we adhere to the highest manufacturing standards, ensuring that healthcare providers have access to reliable tools for compassionate and effective abortion care. This device serves as a valuable tool in the hands of trained healthcare professionals: the simplicity and effectiveness in the design of Ipas MVA contributes to enhancing the overall experience and safety for women seeking abortion care. As an integral part of reproductive healthcare, Ipas Manual Vacuum Aspiration empowers women by providing a reliable and acceptable option for managing different abortion scenarios, emphasizing the importance of personalized reproductive healthcare.

Medical Abortion

Method Overview

What is abortion with pills? 

There are two options for medical abortion, both are effective. These are a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, or misoprostol alone. For first-trimester medical abortion is effective both, misoprostol alone (87%), and in combination with mifepristone (96%)* 

The combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, or misoprostol alone are also effective and safe solutions for miscarriage management including incomplete miscarriage.

Mifepristone is a medication that blocks the flow of progesterone, a hormone needed to support pregnancy. This is not available in all countries.

Misoprostol is another medication that causes the uterus to contract. This helps to expel the contents of the uterus.

Medication abortion is a suitable alternative to surgical abortion for the majority of women, especially early in pregnancy. However, if the pregnancy has progressed beyond 10 weeks, it is recommended to seek guidance from a healthcare facility to administer the pills.

Who can use the abortion pills?

Is it important to establish the duration of pregnancy because if it has progressed beyond 10 weeks, it is recommended to seek guidance from a healthcare provider.  This can be calculated by the number of days since the last normal menstrual period or using an online pregnancy calculator such as the one provided by safe2choose.org

Product Line – MisoMife-Fem Combo &  Miso-Fem

MisoMife-Fem Combo 

MisoMife-Fem Combo is a combipack containing 1 tablet of Mifepristone 200 mg and 4 tablets of Misoprostol 200 mcg (total-800 mcg). 

Mifepristone 200 mg (1 tablet) is a medication that blocks the flow of progesterone, a hormone needed to support pregnancy.  Misoprostol 800 mcg (4 tablets) is another medication that causes the uterus to contract. This helps to expel the contents of the uterus. Together, these medications work to effciently end a pregnancy.

Medical abortion is a suitable alternative to surgical abortion for the majority of women, especially early in pregnancy. However, if the pregnancy has progressed beyond 10 weeks, it is recommended to seek guidance from a healthcare facility to administer the pills

MISO-FEM

Miso-Fem (200 mcg of misoprostol) is a synthetic prostaglandin analogue used in the management of obstetric and gynecological conditions. Misoprostol induces uterine contractions, facilitating the expulsion of uterine contents. 

How to take MisoMife-Fem Combo?

1

Find out the starting day of your last normal period. This will help you determine how many weeks pregnant you are. If you don’t remember the exact date, you can make your best guess. Think about any special events, holidays, or important things that were happening around the time you had your period.

2

Identify the duration of your pregnancy in weeks, as it will influence the usage of abortion pills. You have several options to calculate this: utilize a reliable online pregnancy calculator (such as the one provided by safe2choose.org). Alternatively, you can manually count the number of weeks between the initial day of your last normal menstrual period and the current date on a calendar.

3

Using MIFEPRISTONE and MISOPROSTOL:

Step 01:

After counseling, swallow a mifepristone tablet with water.

Step 02:

After 24-36 hours, administer 4 tablets of 200 mcg misoprostol (800 mcg total)

CHOOSE A MODE OF ADMINISTRATION:

How to take Miso-Fem?

1

Find out the starting day of your last normal period. This will help you determine how many weeks pregnant you are. If you don’t remember the exact date, you can make your best guess. Think about any special events, holidays, or important things that were happening around the time you had your period.

2

Identify the duration of your pregnancy in weeks, as it will influence the usage of abortion pills. You have several options to calculate this: utilize a reliable online pregnancy calculator (such as the one provided by safe2choose.org). Alternatively, you can manually count the number of weeks between the initial day of your last normal menstrual period and the current date on a calendar.

3

Using MISOPROSTOL

BEGIN:

After counseling, administer 4 tablets of 200 mcg misoprostol (800 mcg total)