Abortion Risks

Side effects may occur with surgical or medical abortion, including abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Abortion also carries the risk of significant complications such as bleeding, infection, and damage to organs. Serious complications occur in less than 1 out of 100 early abortions and in about 1 out of every 50 later abortions. Complications may include:

Heavy Bleeding

Some bleeding after abortion is normal. However, if the cervix is torn or the uterus is punctured, there is a risk of severe bleeding (hemorrhaging). When this happens, a blood transfusion may be required. Severe bleeding is also a risk with the use of RU486. One in 100 women who use RU486 requires surgery to stop the bleeding.

Infection

Infection can develop from the insertion of medical instruments into the uterus, or from fetal parts that are mistakenly left inside (known as an incomplete abortion). A pelvic infection may lead to persistent fever over several days and extended hospitalization. It can also cause scarring of the pelvic organs.

Incomplete Abortion

Some fetal parts may be mistakenly left inside after the abortion. Bleeding and infection may result. Bleeding and infection may occur. RU486 may fail in up to 1 out of every 20 cases.

Sepsis (total body infection)

A number of RU486 (mifepristone) users have died as a result of sepsis.

Anesthesia

Complications from general anesthesia used during abortion surgery may result in convulsions, heart attack, and in extreme cases, death. It also increases the risk of other serious complications by two and a half times.

Damage to the Cervix

The cervix may be cut, torn, or damaged by abortion instruments. This can cause excessive bleeding that requires surgical repair.

Scarring of the Uterine Lining

Suction tubing, curettes, and other abortion instruments may cause permanent scarring of the uterine lining.

Perforation of the Uterus

The uterus may be punctured or torn by abortion instruments. The risk of this complication increases with the length of the pregnancy. If this occurs, major surgery may be required, including removal of the uterus (known as a hysterectomy).

Damage to Internal Organs

When the uterus is punctured or torn, there is also a risk that damage will occur to nearby organs such as the bowel and bladder.

Death

In extreme cases, other physical complications from abortion including excessive bleeding, infection, organ damage from a perforated uterus, and adverse reactions to anesthesia may lead to death. This complication is very rare and occurs, on average, in less than 20 cases per year.

Effect on future pregnancy

Scarring or other injury during an abortion may prevent or place at risk future pregnancies. Women who undergo one or more induced abortions carry a significantly increased risk of delivering prematurely in the future. The risk of miscarriage is greater for women who abort their first pregnancy.

Abortion and Breast Cancer

Medical experts are still researching and debating the linkage between abortion and breast cancer. We do know that carrying your first pregnancy to full term gives protection against breast cancer; therefore, choosing abortion causes loss of that protection. Most studies conducted so far show a significant linkage between abortion and breast cancer. A 1994 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found: "Among women who had been pregnant at least once, the risk of breast cancer in those who had experienced an induced abortion was 50% higher than among other women."

Emotional and Psychological Impact

Some women experience strong negative emotions after an abortion. Sometimes this occurs within days and sometimes not until many years later. This psychological response is a form of post-traumatic stress disorder and is known as Post-Abortion Stress (PAS). Factors that impact the likelihood of PAS include the woman's age, the abortion circumstances, the stage of pregnancy and the woman's religious beliefs. Symptoms of PAS include:

• Eating disorders
• Relationship problems
• Guilt
• Anger
• Depression
• Flashbacks of abortion
• Suicidal thoughts
• Sexual dysfunction
• Alcohol and drug abuse

Spiritual Consequences

People have different understandings of God. Whatever your present beliefs may be, there is a spiritual side to abortion that deserves to be considered. Having an abortion may affect more than just your body and your mind -- it may have an impact on your relationship with God. What does God desire for you in this situation? How does God see your unborn child? These are important questions for you to consider. Learn more about what a preborn child looks like: