Abortion Risks:
The most common and usually immediately identifiable risks of an abortion procedure are:
- an allergic reaction to medication or anesthesia
- blood clots in the uterus
- incomplete abortion — part of the pregnancy is left inside the uterus
- infection
- injury to the cervix or other organs
- undetected ectopic pregnancy
- very heavy bleeding
The More serious and lasting risks include:
- Death
- Uterine perforation
- Cervical lacerations
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Endometritis (Infection)
Long-term health risks
- Breast Cancer – Some studies show that abortion may have a link to breast cancer. “Among parous women, a history of induced abortion was associated with a 90% increased risk for breast cancer (adjusted RR = 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1-3.2).”J Natl Cancer Inst. 1996 Dec 4;88(23):1759-64. [Link to study]
- Cervical, ovarian, and liver cancer – Similarly, some studies indicate an increased risk of these types of cancers with a history of abortion. One such study is "Reproductive Factors and the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Women," International Journal of Cancer, 52:351, 1992.
- Emotional Impact: Many women suffer long term emotional trauma when dealing with an abortion. This is called PASS, Post Abortion Stress Syndrome. [Link to study]
Risks to future pregnancies
- Pre-term delivery: Women who have had an abortion have a much greater risk of a pre-term delivery. [Link to study]
- Ectopic Pregnancy: Women with a history of induced abortions may have an increased risk of ectopic pregnancies as it is increasingly difficult for the fertilized egg to reach and implant itself in the uterus. [Link to study]
- Placenta Previa : Placenta Previa is a very dangerous condition that has a much higher occurrence in woman that have previously terminated a pregnancy with abortion. It occurs when the placenta lies particularly low in the uterus which could cause bleeding or preterm birth. When the uterus is scarred, there is a higher likelihood of this condition occurring. [Link to study]
Any of these complications can lead to serious illness or even death. If you have or suspect someone has these complications, contact a medical professional right away.