These are possible complications that may result from having an abortion. It is your right to know the facts if you are considering abortion.
Hemorrhage. Sometimes women bleed heavily during an abortion or a few days afterward. With a medical abortion, such as the use of RU-486, bleeding lasts 13-15 days, or longer. Occasionally it is necessary to receive a transfusion to replace the lost blood. Sometimes a second curettage procedure, or even a hysterectomy, is needed to stop the bleeding.
Infection. The uterus is susceptible to infection immediately after an abortion, especially if part of the baby or placenta is accidentally left inside of you. Infections are even more of a risk if you have Chlamydia or Gonorrhea. Symptoms of infection include pain and fever. Infection is generally treated with antibiotics but sometimes another curettage procedure must be used. If untreated, a very serious infection can develop and could result in infertility.
Perforation. Sometimes the tools of abortion are accidentally pushed through the wall of the uterus during an abortion. If the instrument damages one of your internal organs, it may be necessary to do major surgery to repair the damage. This complication can cause extensive bleeding.
Effects on later Pregnancy. Injury to the cervix may cause the early loss of a later, wanted pregnancy. Scarring, which blocks your fallopian tubes, may also occur; this can prevent you from becoming pregnant in the future. The risk of miscarriage in later pregnancies is higher if a woman has had two or more abortions.
Ectopic (Tubal) Pregnancy. The fetus may be growing in your fallopian tube rather than in your uterus. An abortion procedure would miss this. The continued growth of the fetus in a fallopian tube is dangerous and potentially fatal.
Breast Cancer. A number of scientific studies show a link between abortion and breast cancer. Studies have shown that not carrying a baby full-term increases the chance a woman will have breast cancer. Abortion interrupts the normal hormone cycle in the body. This is one reason researchers believe it increases a woman’s chance of having breast cancer.
Death. Death, although rare, has occurred after abortion. When an abortion is done after the first three months of pregnancy, the risk of death increases. The cause of death by abortion is usually from heavy bleeding or from complications with the drugs used for pain.*
Emotional Risks. Some women experience an immediate feeling of relief following an abortion, but many find themselves later coping with feelings they did not expect. They may have a difficult time talking about these feelings. Some psychologists have labeled these problems as Post-Abortion Stress.
The symptoms of Post-Abortion Stress, listed here, span a wide range and can affect men who have lost a child to an abortion as well as women.*
Post-Abortion Stress
Sadness
Long-term grief
Anger
Sexual dysfunction
Guilt
Flashbacks
Memory repression
Anniversary reactions
Hallucinations
Suicidal thoughts
Increased alcohol and drug use
Difficulty maintaining close relationships*
Spiritual Risks. You are more than a body with emotions. You were made to know God and be in a relationship with him. That’s why it’s important to know how God saw you before you were born and how he sees your unborn child. The Bible is very clear about God’s love and concern for each of us from the time we are conceived.
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world. Jeremiah 1:5 (New Living Translation)”*
*”Making an Informed Decision about Pregnancy.” (2009). Frontlines Publishing: Grand Rapids, MI.
For more information about the link between abortion and breast cancer, visit https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/medical-treatments/abortion-and-breast-cancer-risk.html.
Remember that once you decide to have an abortion, you can never change that decision. You must live with the consequences of your decision to abort your child. Please come to HELP Pregnancy Center and speak with a peer counselor if you have any questions or concerns about your pregnancy.
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” Deuteronomy 30:19