No clinical procedure is entirely free from risk, but abortion poses few risks to a woman's physical health, particularly when carried out during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. And in the vast majority of cases, the fact that a woman has had an abortion does not affect her chances of becoming pregnant and having normal pregnancies in future.
Risks at the time of an abortion
The risk of a problem occurring at the time of an abortion is low. However, there are more likely to be problems if an abortion is carried out later in a pregnancy. The low risks associated with abortions are outlined below:
- haemorrhage (excessive bleeding) occurs in about one in every 1,000 abortions,
- damage to the cervix occurs in no more than 10 in every 1,000 abortions,
- damage to the womb during surgical abortion occurs in up to four in every 1,000 abortions, and
- damage to the womb occurs in less than one in every 1,000 medical abortions carried out 12-24 weeks.
Risks after an abortion
After an abortion, the main risk is infection in the womb that is usually caused by a failure to completely remove all of the foetus and the associated tissue. If you have an infection following an abortion, you may have heavy bleeding from your vagina and some period-like pain. Antibiotics are usually used to treat the infection.
If an infection is not treated, it could result in a more severe infection of your reproductive organs, such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which can cause infertility, or ectopic pregnancy. However, the risk of an infection developing can be reduced by taking antibiotics at the time of the abortion.
Repeated abortions can cause damage to the neck of the womb (cervix), increasing the risk of late miscarriages.
Following an abortion, you may experience some period type pains, and some vaginal bleeding that should gradually lessen after a few days. Most women are able to return to their usual activities within a day or so after having an abortion. However, you should seek medical attention if you experience severe pain, or if bleeding has not cleared up after 14 days.
Women vary greatly in their emotional response to having an abortion. Research suggests that having an abortion does not lead to long-term emotional or psychological problems. However, some women can experience feelings of sadness or guilt after an abortion, and post-abortion counselling services are widely available.
After having an abortion, you may be advised not to have sexual intercourse for up to two weeks. Seek advice from your GP, a family planning clinic or a pregnancy advisory service if you experience either physical or emotional problems following an abortion.
