Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Septic Abortion
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
A septic abortion is an abortion associated with an infection inside a pregnant woman's uterus. An abortion is the expulsion of fetal contents from a woman's uterus. An abortion may be spontaneous, which is referred to as a miscarriage. It may also be an elective surgical or medical abortion, meaning the woman chose to terminate her pregnancy.
What is going on in the body?
The uterus of a pregnant woman is normally protected by a plug of mucus in the cervix, as well as the membranes surrounding the fetus. A septic abortion can occur when bacteria enter the uterus through the mucus plug. These bacteria can be introduced by unclean tools used during an elective abortion. The bacteria may also be those that normally live in a woman's vagina. If the woman has a sexually transmitted disease (STD) such as Chlamydia trachomatis\. Sexually transmitted disease refers to any contagious disease transmitted from one person to another during sexual contact. ',CAPTION,'Chlamydia');" onmouseout="return nd();">chlamydia, the bacteria causing the STD can infect the uterus.
The infection can spread through the fetal tissue to the lining of the uterus. It may go into the muscles of the uterus or beyond that to other nearby organs. If the infection reaches the bloodstream, it is called sepsis.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
A septic abortion may be caused by any of the following factors: