An incomplete abortion is extremely rare, yet it can occur when a pregnancy is terminated. The word "incomplete abortion" might be perplexing because it implies that the termination did not happen. It signifies that the contents of the womb haven't been entirely emptied. Although the abortion has occurred, some material remains in the womb.

Incomplete Abortion - How Common Is It?

When most women have a pregnancy termination, they have no complications. Complications can, however, occur in rare circumstances. Some tissue may be left in your womb, which could be part of the uterine lining or pregnancy products (from the fetus or the placenta). You are no longer pregnant, but the abortion was not successful since there is still material inside your womb that needs to be removed.

The earlier you terminate your pregnancy, the easier it is for your womb to empty. Incomplete abortions are thus more probable if the termination occurs later in the pregnancy. However, the hazards remain manageable.

The likelihood of having an incomplete abortion following a medical termination is approximately:
- 1.6% through day 77 of pregnancy;
- 2.6% from 78 to 83 days;
- 3.4% from 83 to 91 days.

Incomplete abortions are less frequent following a surgical abortion since the doctor will have removed the contents of the womb during the surgery. However, it is still possible if any of the tissue is overlooked.

The Indications of an Incomplete Abortion

If you observe the following symptoms after your pregnancy termination, you may have had an incomplete abortion:
- Bleeding more than usual;
- Bleeding that persists beyond the first few days;
- Bleeding for more than three weeks;
- Extreme pain or cramps;
- Plaststhat last for more than a few days;
- Discomfort when something presses against your stomach;
- High fever that lasts more than a day or two.

What Happens If An Abortion Is Partial?

If you notice any evidence of an incomplete abortion, you should contact the emergency care right away. If there is any material left in your womb, you will require extra treatment because it can cause complications such as infections if not eliminated.

To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may order an ultrasound scan. If you experienced an incomplete abortion after taking the abortion pill, you may be able to take another dose of misoprostol to compress your womb more.

If this does not work or is not appropriate for you, the doctor may prescribe a surgical operation to remove the womb instead. Manual vacuum aspiration of a dilatation and curettage technique may be possible. Both procedures are normally performed without a general anesthetic, and you should not need to stay in the hospital overnight.

The same techniques are used to treat women who have experienced an incomplete miscarriage or who have tissue remaining in their womb after giving birth. You may be familiar with these techniques as they are also used to accomplish surgical pregnancy terminations.

The procedure should ensure that no tissue remains inside your womb. Your symptoms should resolve quickly, and the possibility of more serious problems should be removed. You should, however, keep an eye out for any signs of infection or other problems and call your doctor if you have any concerns.

The Risk of Tetanus (Lockjaw)

Tetanus is an infection that can be transmitted by improper abortion. Women who have not been immunized against tetanus are at a greater risk of becoming ill or dying from tetanus if anything not sterilized is implanted in their wombs during an abortion.

If a woman has an unsafe abortion and has not been vaccinated against tetanus in the last 10 years, she should be given tetanus immune globulin right away.