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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

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Could Having A History Of Meth Usage Deny Someone An Abortion?

My friend is 14 weeks pregnant and 17 weeks clean from crystal meth use. She now wants to have an abortion but a local clinic that does late abortions refused to do it because of her past meth use as the reason. Is there a medical reason for this? They did not elaborate...or she did not understand.
Mon, 18 Jul 2016
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OBGYN,  's  Response
Hallow Dear

The doctors are reluctant to perform termination of pregnancy in Meth consumers beyond 9 weeks of pregnancy since it may require some surgical intervention which may require anaesthesia and cannot be entirely terminated by medicines. There is interaction between meth and anesthesia to be used during abortion.

Crystal meth has Methamphetamine which is a Central nervous system stimulant. Once absorbed it stays in blood for 24 hours and then is excreted in urine. Hence, its chances of interaction with anaesthetic agent or action on CNS are negligible after discontinuation of Meth for 4 days.

Since she has discontinued Meth for 17 weeks, there should not be any contraindication for termination of pregnancy.

I hope this helps you.

Dr. Nishikant Shrotri
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Could Having A History Of Meth Usage Deny Someone An Abortion?

Hallow Dear The doctors are reluctant to perform termination of pregnancy in Meth consumers beyond 9 weeks of pregnancy since it may require some surgical intervention which may require anaesthesia and cannot be entirely terminated by medicines. There is interaction between meth and anesthesia to be used during abortion. Crystal meth has Methamphetamine which is a Central nervous system stimulant. Once absorbed it stays in blood for 24 hours and then is excreted in urine. Hence, its chances of interaction with anaesthetic agent or action on CNS are negligible after discontinuation of Meth for 4 days. Since she has discontinued Meth for 17 weeks, there should not be any contraindication for termination of pregnancy. I hope this helps you. Dr. Nishikant Shrotri