Terminating pregnancy may sound an easy option for many women to get rid of unwanted baby. One needs to have a clear understanding about the risks associated and the after effects of abortion. The risks depend on the length of pregnancy.
Infections, fever, bleeding, vomiting, abdominal pain and gastro-intestinal troubles are some of the minor side-effects of abortion that last only a few days. However, one needs a medical attention when these symptoms last for a longer duration and show no symptoms of heeling.
Terminating pregnancy is a step that changes one’s life. Abortion brings along physical as well as emotional consequences. Below we have discussed some major abortion risks. Please go through it once before taking that crucial decision.
Bleeding problem after abortion:
- Soon after the abortion, a woman may have a heavy discharge of blood along with small pieces of tissue or blood clots. The heavy flow lasts only a few days and gradually the flow becomes less which is considered the normal case. The bleeding may last up-to 5 weeks depending on the length of pregnancy. However, many women suffer from excessive bleeding after abortion. A heavy discharge of blood that soaks a maxi pad in less than an hour is a cause of worry. This kind of bleeding is called as “hemorrhaging”.
- This abnormal blood loss may possibly occur if the cervix is punctured or is torn during the abortion process. One may require a blood transfusion. This kind of abortion risk, in some cases, may require a surgery.
Infections after abortion:
- Abortion could bring along infections. Infection to your pelvic parts could possibly happen due to some fetal parts that are mistakenly left inside the womb (incomplete abortion or abnormal abortion).
- Pelvic inflammatory disease, identified with persistent fever, can also develop due to the insertion of medical instruments into the uterus while performing the surgery. The infection further causes scarring of the pelvic organs.
- Such infections can be a life threatening side effect of abortion that can lead to infertility and ectopic pregnancy. As per the studies, nearly 5% of women suffer with pelvic inflammatory diseases post abortion.
- Sepsis (total body infection) can happen when a number or mifepristone (a tablet) is used to induce medication abortion.
Incomplete abortion:
- Incomplete abortion means an induced abortion that is not complete and contents of the uterus (some unwanted fetal parts) are not completely expelled and are left behind inside the womb. During the surgery, some parts and tissues of the fetal may be mistakenly left inside the uterus resulting in bleeding, cramps and severe infections.
- Incomplete abortion can also happen when a woman whose pregnancy has reached eight weeks or more from the time of conception, goes for a medication abortion. In this case, the fetus is more than an inch in size can do not come out through the cervical opening on its own.
- One may need to go for a surgery to completely remove the fetal parts from the uterus.
Perforation of the uterus after abortion:
- An improper usage of the surgical tools during the abortion surgery can cause perforation or puncturing of the uterus. This results in severe cramping, heavy bleeding and fever. One may have to get the uterus removed to avoid further complications.
Damage to internal organs after abortion:
- The surgical method of abortion has many risks associated with it. An improper handling of the instruments used to perform the surgery can cause some injury to the organs near the uterus. Usually the bladder and the bowl are at a higher risk of getting injured.
Scars on the uterus lining after abortion:
- While performing the surgery the surgical instruments are inserted inside the uterus through the vagina and cervix. Curettes are used to scrape the tissue lining along the wall of the uterus. These can leave permanent scars on the uterus lining.
Cervical injury after abortion:
- The surgical tools can also tear, cut or damage the cervix causing excessive bleeding and severe cramping. This requires an urgent medical attention. This can cause future miscarriages and premature labor putting mother and baby at risk.
Anesthesia:
- Several complications are involved with the usage of anesthesia during the abortion surgery. The complications include heart-attack and convulsions.
Breast cancer after abortion:
- When a woman get pregnant, her body starts preparing for breast-feeding by changing the levels of female hormones such as the estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin. This brings change in the breast tissues. Breast cancer is related to hormone levels in the body. An induced abortion during the early stages of pregnancy does not bring a lot of change in the breast tissues but, an abortion done at a later stage brings significant change to the breast tissues and the milk glands develop. After abortion, the milk still inside the breasts does not come out and may result in small lumps causing breast cancer.
- However, the debate is still on. There is not much scientific evidence to support the notion that an abortion raises the risk of breast cancer.
Problems in later pregnancies:
- Abortion can cause cervical and uterine damage that may increase the risk of premature delivery and abnormal development of the placenta in the later pregnancies.
- An abnormal placenta development also increases the risk of fetal malformation and excessive bleeding during labor.
Infertility after abortion:
- Damage to the uterus or the cervix during the abortion surgery can prevent another embryo from attaching to the uterus wall resulting in infertility. Infection after an abortion can also cause infertility in a woman by preventing further pregnancies.
If left untreated, these side-effects of abortion can cause a long-term damage to reproductive organs.