Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026
07:28
Auricular Point Acupressure Therapy: A Safe and Effective Treatment for Postsurgical Abortion Recovery
Published on: February 3, 2026
[Voluntary pregnancy termination over the first trimester. A five-year observation]
C Bastianelli1, S Carrara, G D'Andrea
1Dipartimento di Ginecologia e Ostetricia, Università degli Studi di Roma ''La Sapienza'', Roma, Italia. carlo.bastianelli@uniroma1.it.
Minerva Ginecologica
|October 16, 2008
Summary
Italian law permits voluntary pregnancy termination (VPT) up to 120 days for severe fetal anomalies. A study found most late-term VPT requests were due to fetal anomalies, necessitating psychological evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Medical Law
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Medical Ethics
Context:
- Italian abortion law permits termination up to 90 days, or up to 120 days for severe fetal anomalies or risks to maternal health.
- An observed increase in voluntary pregnancy termination (VPT) requests beyond 90 days in Italy prompted this study.
Purpose:
- To retrospectively analyze the reasons for voluntary pregnancy termination (VPT) requests submitted after 90 days of gestational age in Italy.
- To investigate the types of fetal anomalies and diagnostic methods used in late-term VPT cases.
Summary:
- A 5-year study (2003-2007) reviewed 255 cases of VPT over 90 days. All cases were authorized due to severe psychological distress stemming from diagnosed fetal anomalies.
- Fetal anomalies were genetic in 43.2% and morphological in 56.8% of cases, identified via genetic testing, ultrasound, or karyotype analysis.
Impact:
- Findings highlight the critical role of fetal anomaly diagnosis in late-term voluntary pregnancy termination decisions.
- The study underscores the need for comprehensive data to understand trends in legal abortion and inform public health strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:07Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
01:27Ovarian Cycle
The menstrual cycle includes a critical component known as the ovarian cycle, which undergoes two main phases each month—the follicular phase and the luteal phase. The follicular phase is variable and averaging around 14 days. Ovulation, triggered by a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH), marks the transition between the two phases. The second phase, the luteal phase, is relatively consistent, lasting approximately 14 days, and is marked by the activity of the corpus luteum. While a cycle length...