Abortion: Physical Risks

HEMORRHAGE:
Sometimes women will bleed heavily during an abortion or a few days afterwards. Occasinally it is necessary to give a transfusion to replace the lost blook. Sometimes it is necessary to do a second curettage procedure or a hystorectomy to stop the bleeding.

INFECTION:
A Uterus is susceptible to infection right after an abortion. Infections are even more of a risk if you have Chlamydia or Gonorrhea. Symptoms are pain and fever. This is generally treated with antibiotics, but sometimes another curettage procedure must be used. If untreated, a very serious infection can develop and could result in infertility.

PERFORATION:  
Sometimes the tools of abortion are accidentally pushed through the wall of the uterus during an abortion. If the instrument damages one of your internal organs, it may be necessary to do major surgery to repair the damage.

EFFECTS ON LATER PREGNANCY:
Severe injury to the cervix may occur and may result in the early loss of a later pregnancy. The risk of miscarriage in later pregnancies is higher in a woman who has had 2 or more abortions.

CONTINUED PREGNANCY:
The fetus may be growing in your fallopian tube rather than in your uterus. An abortion procedure would miss this, and to continued growth of the fetus in your tube is dangerous.

DEATH:
Death has occurred after abortion, although this is rare. When abortion is done after the first 3 months of pregnancy, the risk of death increases. The cause of death by abortion is usually from heavy bleeding or from complications with anesthesia.