ABORTION RISKS
AND SIDE EFFECTS
Before you have any elective procedure it’s important to know the potential impacts it could have on your body and future health. Here we’ve compiled the latest research on the impacts of abortion.
Risks and side effects vary by the type of procedure and how far along you are. If you’re pregnant, Care Pregnancy Clinic can help you determine exactly what kind of abortion procedure you could be eligible for, and discuss the specific risks and side effects associated with that procedure.
Before you have any elective procedure it’s important to know the potential impacts it could have on your body and future health. Here we’ve compiled the latest research on the impacts of abortion.
Risks and side effects vary by the type of procedure and how far along you are. If you’re pregnant, Care Pregnancy Clinic can help you determine exactly what kind of abortion procedure you could be eligible for, and discuss the specific risks and side effects associated with that procedure.
Pain Management
Almost all women will experience some pain and cramping with abortion. Neglecting this important element needlessly increases a woman’s anxiety and discomfort, potentially lengthening the procedure and compromising her care. (World Health Organization, Clinical practice handbook for safe abortion)
- The amount of pain that women experience with uterine evacuation or pregnancy expulsion, and their response to that pain, varies greatly.
- It is necessary to individually assess each woman’s pain-management needs.
- Both non-pharmacological and pharmacological methods may be helpful in reducing pain associated with abortion.
- Close attention should be paid to a woman’s medical history, allergies and concurrent use of medications that might interact with any available analgesic or anaesthetic agents, to optimize the safe use of all pain medications. (World Health Organization, Clinical practice handbook for safe abortion)
Understanding pain with abortion
- A woman having an abortion may feel anxiety, fear or apprehension.
- Anxiety can increase sensitivity to pain.
- A highly anxious woman may not be able to lie still on the procedure table for a surgical abortion, potentially compromising her safety if this is not treated.
- Pain related to both physiological and mechanical cervical dilatation and uterine contractions is common among women undergoing abortion. (World Health Organization, Clinical practice handbook for safe abortion)
Common Side Effects
- Bleeding – on average, bleeding lasts 14 days but can last as long as 21 days.1,2 Cramping Dizziness Drowsiness Nausea/Vomiting
Possible Complications
- Damage to the womb or cervix
- Excessive bleeding
- Incomplete abortion, requiring an additional surgical abortion procedure
- Infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes
- Scarring of the inside of the uterus
- Sepsis or Septic shock
- Uterine perforation
- Death
Possible Complications
- Damage to the womb or cervix
- Excessive bleeding
- Incomplete abortion, requiring an additional surgical abortion procedure
- Infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes
- Scarring of the inside of the uterus
- Sepsis or Septic shock
- Uterine perforation
- Death
Signs Of An Incomplete Abortion
Incomplete abortion happens when some pregnancy tissue remains in your womb. This causes painful symptoms that need medical attention as soon as possible.
It happens more often with a medication abortion (the abortion pill) due to less interaction with a medical professional and user error. There is, however, still a chance of an the abortion being incomplete in both types of procedures. Here are some of the signs of an incomplete abortion. Seek help from a medical professional if you experience these symptoms:
- Moderate to severe vaginal bleeding (saturating more than one pad an hour)
- Lower abdominal and/or pain
- Pain in the back, buttocks, genitalia, and perineum
- Passing blood clots
A fever
Future Health Risks
Future Pre-term Deliveries
- Abortion causes a weakening of the cervix, which increases a woman’s risk of future pre-term deliveries. Two recently published studies indicate that one induced abortion increases the risk of a subsequent preterm birth by between 25% and 27%. After two or more abortions a woman’s risk of preterm birth increases by between 51% and 62%.3,4
- A 2013 Canadian study found that women who have had abortions are more than twice as likely to have a very early preterm child (26 weeks gestation). The risks were 71% higher at 28 weeks gestation and 45% higher at 32 weeks.5 (Premature births carry serious health risks for the baby. Infants who are born before 37 weeks gestational age have a much lower chance of living to adulthood.6 Those that do survive have significant risk of serious disabilities, including cerebral palsy, intellectual impairment, psychological development disorders and autism.7,8,9 )
