Risks of Having an Abortion

Every woman who considering an abortion has unique and personal reasons. It is important that she make an informed decision, which means she needs to be aware of the risks involved. It is critical that she choose a reputable health care provider who will discuss the possible risks with her and address any concerns.

Function

• An abortion is the termination of a pregnancy. Whenever possible, abortions should be performed by the ninth week of pregnancy in order to limit complications. There are risks involved at any time---during the procedure and afterward. Choosing abortion requires careful consideration.

Types

• During the first trimester of pregnancy, women can choose between medical or surgical abortion. A medical abortion usually uses the pill Mifepristone early in the pregnancy. Another medication known as Misoprostol is given to help expel the pregnancy from the uterus. Mifepristone should not be taken by women who are further along than seven weeks of pregnancy.
  Surgical abortions typically are performed through one of the following methods:
  Suction aspiration is a procedure performed during the first 6 to 12 weeks.
  Dilation and Curettage is done during the first 12 to 15 weeks of pregnancy.
  Dilation and Evacuation can be done between 15 and 21 weeks of gestation.
  Dilation and Extraction is used after 21 weeks of pregnancy.

Considerations

• The side effects of the abortion pill Mifepristone may include bleeding, cramping, nausea, headache, diarrhea and vomiting. One of the risks of Mifepristone is the heavy bleeding that may occur. The pill may also fail in some cases as it is not 100% reliable. Women who take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder should not take this drug. In some cases, not all fetal tissue is expelled. A Dilation and Curettage (D & C) then needs to be performed to remove the remaining tissue from the uterus.

Effects

• The surgical abortion procedure of suction aspiration includes side effects such as nausea, sweating, cramping, feeling lightheaded and prolonged or heavy bleeding. Possible risks include infection, blood clots, perforation of the uterus and damage to the cervix. Dilation and curettage also poses similar side effects and risks although the risk of perforation of the uterus is increased in this procedure. In Dilation and Evacuation, bleeding may occur for up to two weeks following the procedure. There is an increased risk of infection, blood clots, uterus perforation and damage to the cervix or lining of the uterus.

Warning

• Surgical abortions present a higher risk of complications, such as infection. Women who have surgical abortions suffer from a higher incidence of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), which may lead to infertility. Ectopic pregnancy is another risk of abortion. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the pregnancy develops in the tube rather than the uterus. The pregnancy must be terminated because it cannot be carried to a viable completion and puts the woman's life at risk. Abortion increases the risk of placenta previa in subsequent pregnancies. This is a condition in which the placenta breaks from the uterine wall causing severe bleeding. Placenta previa is a life threatening condition for both the mother and fetus.

Expert Insight

• It is important to note that 2 to 5 % of women do become infertile following an abortion. Most often, the result of sterility is due to PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease) or damage that occurred to the uterus during the procedure.

  Another important fact to consider is the high incidence of breast cancer that seems to be related to abortion. In 1994, a study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that included 1,800 women. The study showed that abortion increased the risk of developing breast cancer by age 45 by 50 percent.

  Although the incidence of mortality is extremely low, death can occur due to complications following an abortion. According to data from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) in 2000, 11 women died as a result of complications from legal abortions.