Risks And Complications

COMPARISON OF RISK

As with any kind of procedure, complications can occur after an abortion. Early abortion by vacuum aspiration is a safe procedure. Less than 1 in 100 women will have a serious complication, including, but not limited to:

• Blood clots in the uterus: In about 1 in 100 cases, blood clots may fill the uterus, leading to severe cramping. Usual treatment for this is to repeat vacuum aspiration.
• Infection: is caused by germs from the vagina and cervix getting into the uterus. The likelihood of infection is less than 1 in 100 abortions. These infections respond to antibiotics, but in some cases a repeat vacuum aspiration or hospitalization is necessary. Rarely, surgery is required.
• Cervical Tear: The cervix is sometimes torn during the procedure. The frequency of this event is less than 1 in 100 cases. Stitches may be required to repair the injury.
• Uterine perforation: Rarely, an instrument may go through the wall of the uterus. The frequency of this is less than 2 in 100 cases. Should this occur, hospitalization is usually required for observation and/or completion of the abortion. To inspect the condition of the uterus in this situation, a small telescope (laparoscope) can be inserted through the navel. Rarely, an abdominal operation is required to repair the damage. This can include hysterectomy (removal of uterus), which makes it impossible to have children. The frequency of hysterectomy in this instance is about 1 in 10,000 cases.
• Failure to terminate the pregnancy: Rarely, the early abortion procedure will not end the pregnancy. The likelihood of this occurring is about 2 in 1000 cases. This possibility is one reason that a post-abortion examination is essential. In such cases another abortion procedure is recommended since the first attempted abortion can adversely affect normal development of the pregnancy. Alternately, a tubal (ectopic) pregnancy may exist, which requires an abdominal operation to remove it.
• Anesthesia: Some women may be allergic to Novocaine derivatives and to other medications. If this is known, it is important to tell the doctor. All medications or drugs, including street drugs, may cause serious and dangerous reactions during anesthesia. It is important that you provide the clinic with this information. What you tell will be kept in confidence.
• Impact of abortion on future wanted pregnancies: Studies on abortion have shown that one uncomplicated first trimester abortion by vacuum aspiration does not pose a measurable risk to a woman’s future childbearing ability. Whether more than one abortion affects a woman’s future childbearing ability is less clear, as less research has not been done in this area.
• Emotional reactions: Emotional problems after abortion are uncommon and when they happen they go away quickly. Most women report a sense of relief, although some experience depression or guilt. Serious psychiatric disturbances such as psychosis or serious depression after abortion appear to be less frequent than after childbirth.

* For more information on risks and complications associated with abortions, please visit National Abortion Federation- Abortion Facts.

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