An abortion is a procedure that results in the intentional termination of a pregnancy. While surgical abortions involve the physical removal of a fetus from a woman's uterus using mechanical suction, medical abortions involve the administration of drugs such as mifepristone and/or prostaglandins to induce spontaneous abortion. Each method of abortion carries some risk of complications, so women should be sure to discuss their options and concerns with their healthcare providers.
Structural Damage
The National Institutes of Health advises that, while rare, surgical abortions can result in damage to the womb, ovaries, cervix, uterus or fallopian tubes. Even more rarely, the large intestine or other nearby organ may be injured.
The further along a woman is in her pregnancy at the time of the abortion, the more risk she has of incurring these complications. According to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, a woman is at increased risk of suffering a tear on the cervix inflicted by a surgical instrument if she has a surgical abortion when she is more than 12 weeks along. Approximately one-tenth of a percent of all women who have a surgical abortion sustain a perforated uterus.
Bleeding and Infection
Excessive or abnormal bleeding and infection are potential complications of both medical and surgical abortions. According to Merck Manuals, severe bleeding occurs in only 6 out of 10,000 surgical abortions and is more likely to occur if part of the placenta was left in the uterus. Medical abortions are more likely to cause pelvic and abdominal cramping along with vaginal bleeding. They are less likely than surgical abortions to lead to infection. Women who have either medical or surgical abortions are at increased risk of developing blood clots in the legs, particularly if they remain sedentary for an extended period of time following the procedure.
Subsequent Problems with Fertility
Surgical abortions can theoretically increase the risk of subsequent problems conceiving or carrying a pregnancy to term; however, this risk is extremely rare. According to the MayoClinic.com, if a woman who underwent a surgical abortion suffered structural damage that weakened her cervix, her fertility could be affected. Merck Manuals also notes that surgical abortions can cause Asherman's syndrome--a condition characterized by scar tissue on the lining of the uterus that leads to sterility.
Where possible, women may need to undergo surgery to repair this structural damage in order to restore fertility. No evidence links medical abortions to future problems with fertility.
Psychological Risks
The National Institutes of Health advises that women who undergo an abortion are at risk of emotional distress following the procedure. They recommend all women seek psychological support prior to the procedure in an effort to prevent severe problems afterward. Women with pre-existing psychological problems, those who felt forced to terminate a pregnancy due to health reasons and those who had later term abortions are more likely to suffer psychological complications, according to Merck Manuals.
