QuestionQUESTION: I had a abortion two years ago when I was 20, And they give me a shot because they tested me to see if I was RH neg and I was. So did that shot help me from become sensitization? Or should I get tested before I start thinking about having kids just to make should. And she I get my husband tested for Rh Factor?
ANSWER: Hi dear Lauren,
the RHOGAM shot is needed to prevent sensitization. It does not work out after some time. It is needed only for pregnancies older than 7 weeks.
If your husband is Rh neg and you'r sure the child is his (excuse, but
some women are not) you do not need thre RHOGAM.
Take care !
Goodbye,
dr Shan
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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Ok I understand that. But What I was trying to ask is that since they gave me the shot. Before the abortion. That my rh neg didnt spread to my bloodstream to make me sensitization for the rest of my life. Bc I read that after you get a abortion or miscarriage that sensitization can spread throughtout ur bloodstream. And since they gave me the shot I just want to make sure that I am okay for future births?
AnswerHI Lauren again,
I see...you do not understand that you are Rh negative once and for all. You'r born that way and will stay so. And it absolutely never influences your health. About 15 % of the US population has the bloodtype Rh neg. If the father of your baby has the Rhesus factor that does not harm him either.
But: the young baby in your whomb from this positive father is normaly also Rh positive. Later in the pregnancy some bloodcels of the unborn Rhesus positive may enter your bloodstream and your body makes anti Rh pos antibodies.
These also do not harm you. But they can harm the baby !
Thats why they immunize you with the Rhogam. Then you do not produce antibodies which may harm the baby. So Rhogam does not do anything with you, but protects the baby. Some docs give it at each pregnancy where there is a chance that the "father" is Rh positive.
As it is not known precisely how long the Rhogan stays active in your
bloodstream its better to take the shot at every pregnancy, unless you are sure the "father" is also Rh negative.
sorry for the long story !
take care,
dr Shan
