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Physical Risks of Abortion

Medical Abortions

Following are some of the physical risks associated with several types of medical abortion.

Pain
Up to 90% of women may require a pain reliever, sometimes codeine for cramping and abdominal pain

Bleeding
Vaginal bleeding can occur with the passage of blood clots. Anemic women are not candidates for some procedures. Sometimes, a woman may have excessive bleeding or hemorrhaging that requires surgical intervention (<1%) with rarely needed blood transfusions.

Nausea, Vomiting, and Diarrhea
Women experiencing these symptoms may require medication to stop the vomiting and diarrhea.

Infection
May result from retained pregnancy products, undiagnosed STD or possible destruction of the body's white blood cells (neutropenia, 4%).

May need a surgical abortion
Incomplete abortions occur in about 2% of the women and continued pregnancy in about 1%.

Tubal Pregnancy
There is a possibility of maternal death in the case of an undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy.

WARNINGS:

  • Searle, the manufacturer of Cytotec, warns against the use of misoprotol in pregnant women. There have been reports of severe uterine contractions, including uterine rupture with the use of this drug in pregnant women. It can also cause diarrhea and abdominal pains.
  • Warnings about the side effects and major complications of Mifeprex that may include: heart attack, heavy and extended bleeding, impaired future fertility, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

 

Surgical Abortions

Following are some of the physical risks associated with several types of surgical abortion.

Infection
Retained pregnancy components or an undiagnosed STD may cause an infection requiring outpatient PID treatment, or hospitalization for intravenous antibiotics. If pregnancy components are retained, the woman will need another aspiration procedure.

Persistent or excessive bleeding
Abnormal bleeding may result from uterine muscles not contracting or blood vessels not constricting to stop the bleeding. Also, blood clots may develop inside the uterus after the procedure. The women will need repeat suction and medication to stop bleeding.

Uterine Perforation
The uterus and/or intestine may have been perforated (a wall punched through with the suction tube or other instrument inserted within the uterus). On occasion with hemorrhaging, a woman may require abdominal surgery and/or a blood transfusion to replace large blood losses.

Damage to Cervix
The cervix may be lacerated (cut or torn) requiring suture repair in order to stop significant bleeding.

Cervical Incompetence
A woman may not be able to carry a future pregnancy to term as a result of injuries to the cervix during a 2nd trimester abortion.

Failed Abortion
Sometimes, when this procedure is performed during the earliest stages of human development, the suction device may miss the baby. In such cases, the pregnancy continues; a sonogram is performed to locate the baby for repeat suction if there is no ectopic pregnancy.

Delivery of a Badly Burned Infant
The infant may survive this procedure and be delivered alive. But, may not live for a very long time thereafter.

Future Infertility Problems
The woman may have future infertility problems if the uterus has been badly scarred during this procedure.

Death
Death has occurred after abortion, although this is rare. The cause of death by abortion is usually from heavy bleeding or from complications with anesthesia (the drugs used to help relieve pain).

 

Emotional Risks of Abortion

 

 couple contemplating abortion
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