What are the Possible Complications after Abortion?
Abortion is advertised as a safe and simple solution to an unexpected pregnancy. But is it really? Below is an overview of complications after abortion that often go undiscussed.
Since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, abortion has been legal in various degrees in the United States.
In 2022, this decision was overturned by the Supreme Court, giving individual States their own power to decide whether or not to allow legal abortion.
There are many reasons that abortion then became illegal or very restricted in several states.
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Many of those reasons have to do with the recognition of the life of the human child growing in the womb and, of course, the health and safety of the mother.
In Missouri, a lawsuit filed in 2020 against the FDA noted that abortionists “routinely fail to report complications.”
So it’s important to know that statistics you might find on complications after abortion may not represent the true health threats women face.
This post medically reviewed by on-staff nurse, Tomi Matlock, RN.
Note: The information on this website is intended for general education purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical advice.
Real risks of abortion
Below, we’ll go over some complications that can happen with medication abortion (the abortion pill, aka chemical abortion) and surgical abortion (also called procedural abortion).
Because your health matters, these are important risks to take seriously before ordering abortion pills or traveling out of state for an abortion.
Infection (including Sepsis)
Infection after an abortion can be caused by several factors:
Retained products of conception
This means parts of the fetus were not expelled during the abortion. The result is pain, bleeding, fever, and infection, and in some cases, life-threatening septic shock (a severe response to infection).
Surgery may be needed to treat an incomplete abortion and remove the remaining fetal products.
Sexually transmitted infection (STI or STD)
If you have a sexually transmitted infection and have a surgical abortion, the infection can spread to other parts of the body.
Since some STI’s have no symptoms, it’s important to be tested.
Carrying an untreated STI and then having an abortion can lead to health issues including:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Increased risk of infertility (inability to have children in the future).
Contaminated surgical tools
In any surgery, this is something surgeons must be careful to avoid.
However, we know that in the past at the former abortion clinic in St. Louis Missouri, health inspection reports revealed violations of infection prevention protocols, and rusty surgical tables and equipment.
Due to the largely unregulated nature of abortion clinics nationwide, ignoring health and safety standards is a common practice. (See report.)
Uterine Perforation
This happens when a surgical tool cuts through the uterine wall, in about one out of every 250 abortions (Source).
It can also be accompanied by bowel or cervix injury.
These injuries can sometimes lead to infertility or problems with future pregnancies.
At home abortion risks
There is an increased risk of infection in a self-induced, or at-home abortion.
This can happen when taking abortion pills, or in other attempts to end a pregnancy.
Many women are not aware that medication abortion (abortion pills) “has a complication rate four times that of a surgical abortion, and as many as one out of five women will suffer a complication.” (Source)
Ectopic pregnancy
Women who start an abortion at home without medical supervision also have an increased risk of missing an ectopic pregnancy.
This means the pregnancy was embedded outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube.
In this case, abortion pills will not be successful.
More importantly: An ectopic pregnancy in a fallopian tube is a life-threatening situation that requires immediate medical care.
The only way you can know you aren’t facing an ectopic pregnancy before an abortion is to have an ultrasound to confirm the location of the pregnancy.
If you’re in the Mountain Grove, Missouri area, you can schedule a free ultrasound with our office.
We can also refer you to a pregnancy center near you.
Hemorrhaging
Hemorrhaging (severe blood loss) is a side effect that can happen after taking the abortion pill regimen.
One study even found there is a 53% greater risk for an ER visit for abortion complications after chemical abortion (abortion pill), versus after surgical abortion.
Overall, approximately one in 20 women who take the abortion pill will wind up in the emergency room.
Failed abortion
In very early pregnancies, failure to end the pregnancy is relatively common abortion complication. (Source.)
Failed abortion can also occur beyond early pregnancy, meaning you could instead be delivering a viable infant at home.
In fact, the Abortion Survivors Network estimates there are approximately 1,734 abortion survivors each year. The psychological impact of an attempted abortion can be very significant for these survivors.
You should know that if you take the first abortion pill and change your mind, you may be able to reverse its effects.
(Here’s how.)
Many healthy babies have been born after an initial abortion pill regimen was started, and then reversed with prompt treatment.
Effects of abortion on future pregnancy
In addition to fertility complications you could have with infection, having an abortion can also increase the risk of miscarriage in future pregnancies.
Some women also have a difficult time becoming pregnant after a past abortion.
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Mental health complications after abortion
Another risk that is sometimes underemphasized is the effect on a woman’s mental health after abortion.
A range of studies have indicated that depression, substance abuse and even suicide have been linked to prior elective abortion decisions.
In the largest study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry in 2011, the findings were:
“Women who had undergone an abortion experienced an 81% increased risk of mental health problems, and nearly 10% of the incidence of mental health problems was shown to be attributable to abortion.”
A review of this study can be found here.
Compassionate care for all
If you are considering ordering the abortion pill, visiting an abortion clinic, or traveling for abortion out of state, you can first chat with a nurse in the chat box on this screen.
Or, call us at 417-926-3310.
We explain all the complications after abortion that are not always covered in other settings.
You’re worth it, and your future health is worth getting the right information ahead of time.
Read next:
What you need to know about at-home abortions
Took the abortion pill: What comes next
What is the missed period pill?
Tips for college students who’ve taken a positive test
Is it possible to continue my pregnancy after the first abortion pill?
