Elisabeth Moreno, Minister Delegate for Gender Equality, has just said she is in favor of extending the abortion period. A reform that does not suit the CNGOF (National College of French Gynecologists and Obstetricians).
- One in four pregnancies is terminated in France today.
- 75% of abortions are performed in hospitals.
Currently, the National Assembly is questioned about a bill intended to strengthen the right to abortion, which includes an extension of the legal period from 14 to 16 weeks of amenorrhea (SA). In this context, the CNGOF, learned society of Gynecology & Obstetrics, draws attention to the fact that the gesture of surgical abortion between 14 and 16 SA changes in nature. “At 14 weeks, aspiration of the uterine contents is still possible. At 16 weeks, it is necessary to further dilate the cervix at the risk of creating permanent lesions, which may be responsible for subsequent premature births”explain the doctors.
“Disaffection of health professionals”
“The actions required beyond 14 WA can be a source of complications for women, and their arduousness could lead to a loss of affection among health professionals who perform them today (like what happened during the previous extension from 12 to 14 weeks of amenorrhea in 2001)”they add. “As for the technique of medical abortion at this term, it requires personnel resources which are absolutely not covered by the current nomenclature of this act”, they notice.
On the other hand, the CNGOF proposes that the means be given to health establishments so that the maximum period of care is 5 days from the request made by a woman to terminate her pregnancy. “No woman hopes for a late abortion. What they ask for, however, is that they be taken care of quickly when they decide to terminate their pregnancy. Some health establishments, especially in large cities, already saturated and lacking in resources, cannot give appointments quickly when requested”, explain gynecologists. “It seems to us more judicious, for women’s health, to give health establishments the means to manage abortions as emergencies”, they add.
For free contraception
Even if the availability of contraception will never be able to prevent all abortion requests, the CNGOF also wants access to all contraception to be free. In addition, the strengthening of prevention measures through information in schools must be, according to health professionals, more effective: “it is necessary to apply the law of November 4, 2001 and to check that the information sessions on sexual and emotional life do indeed take place in all schools in France”, concludes the institution.
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