Twenty-two percent of all pregnancies end in abortion, and in 2005, 1.21 million abortions were performed. This data is reported by the Guttmacher Institute, which also reports that each year two percent of women age 15 to 44 have an abortion. Overall, abortion is a safe procedure, with the rates of death or serious complications being low. There are, however, common side effects that occur after the majority of abortions.
Abdominal Pain and Cramping
The most common and expected side effect of an abortion is pain from uterine cramping. Over 75 percent of women reported cramping post abortion. According to the American Pregnancy Association, pain and cramping result from the abortion procedure in which a surgical vacuum is used to remove the fetus and related material from a woman's uterus. This process requires the uterus to be dilated by cone shaped rods before a cannula, a long plastic tube, is inserted into the cervix.
Vaginal Bleeding
Vaginal Bleeding is a common side effect of an abortion and can last from two to four weeks following the procedure. Bleeding can range from mild to moderate, meaning from spotting up to the amount of bleeding that occurs during a normal menstrual cycle. If bleeding becomes heavier than a typical menstrual cycle, the woman should contact her health care provider.
Gastrointestinal Side Effects
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea many occur after an abortion. For some patients, this is a result of a reaction to anesthesia, while for others, it could be due to factors such as stress or other medical conditions. Following an abortion, the body begins to reduce HCG, the hormone that helps sustain pregnancy. Once a pregnancy is ended, HCG begins to decrease and may result in gastrointestinal side effects for some.
Headaches and Dizziness
Headaches often occur as a result of having been sedated with anesthesia. This pain typically goes away within a few hours following the procedure. Dizziness may also occur and is only a concern if it accompanied by heavy bleeding.
