Sometimes women need abortions because they are not financially capable of supporting a baby. They may also choose to get an abortion because they are not emotionally ready for child. However, an abortion is sometimes necessary due to medical reasons. You might need an abortion to save your life.

In some cases a medical abortion is the only way to save the mother's life. Women also need an abortion when the child has some serious genetic defects that can never be corrected. So let us see what medical conditions can deem an abortion necessary.

Chicken Pox During Pregnancy: If you develop a serious viral disease like chicken pox during your pregnancy, then you might need an abortion urgently. The chicken pox virus remains in your body for 3 months and can infect your baby too.

Cancer: If you are diagnosed with cancer during your pregnancy, then it is better to go for a medical termination of pregnancy. Cancer needs urgent treatment and the harsh chemicals of chemotherapy can pose a danger to the baby. If a woman waits for the baby to be born when she is diagnosed with cancer, it might be fatal for her.

Birth Defects: An ultrasound scan or amniocentesis can tell you if the child has any serious birth defects like the Down's syndrome or cerebral palsy. In such cases, you may choose to have an abortion instead of letting the child suffer for whole life.

Impending Miscarriage: In some cases the mother has a weak womb and the doctor is sure that the pregnancy will end up with a miscarriage. In such cases an abortion is necessary to avoid any medical emergencies.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: If the expectant mother is diagnosed with sexually transmitted diseases like HIV or syphilis, then there is high probability that the baby too might be infected. In such cases it is better get an abortion because you cannot be sure whether the baby will be infected or not.

Diabetic Mother: If the mother has very severe diabetes, her blood sugar levels might affect the baby's development. The doctor may say that you need an abortion if your diabetes is out of control.

High Thyroid: If the mother has malfunctioning thyroid, the baby's brain development is directly affected. So if the mother's thyroid hormone is not under control, an abortion might be necessary.


BDST: 1655 HRS, FEB- 25, 2016
Edited by:  Sharmina Islam, Lifestyle Editor