Abortions occur when a fetus is expelled from a woman's uterus. Abortions generally occur within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Approximately 1.3 million women in the United States have an abortion to end a pregnancy, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Complications can arise when the procedure is performed in an unsanitary environment with dirty or infected equipment.
Hemorrhaging or Severe Bleeding
Hemorrhaging and severe bleeding are common complications following an abortion. A woman may hemorrhage--uncontrollable bleeding--after an abortion because her blood does not clot properly, notes the Pennsylvanians for Human Life: Scranton Chapter. Hemorrhaging is extremely life threatening and very difficult to treat. It generally occurs in approximately 2 out of 1,000 second trimester abortions. A woman may experience severe bleeding or to two to four weeks following an abortion, according to the American Pregnancy Association. This type of bleeding may consist of heavy spotting, moderate bleeding or heavy bleeding that is heavier than a normal menstrual period.
Bladder and Bowel Injury
Women who abort have an increased risk of bladder and bowel injuries, following the procedure, according to AbortionFacts.com. If a woman's uterus is punctured during the abortion, there is a good possibility that her bladder and intestines have also been pierced. In some cases, these injuries remain undiagnosed at the time of the abortion and symptoms do not appear until several days to weeks after the surgery. When a woman's uterus, bladder and/or intestines have been pierced, she will experience nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, blood in stool and/or peritonitis--inflamed, infected lining of the abdomen. In some cases, surgery to take out a portion of the intestine and a temporary or permanent abdominal colostomy bag remain the only ways to correct the injuries.
Infection
It is estimated that 25 to 50 percent of women develop some type of infection after an abortion. According to PregnancyCenters.org, infections can develop from the insertion of unclean medical instruments into the uterus, fetal parts that are mistakenly left inside the womb or bacteria that enters the uterus during the surgery. If a woman contracts a pelvic infection, she may develop a persistent fever that leads to hospitalization. In addition, a pelvic infection can cause scarring of the pelvic organs and damage to the uterus.
Mixed Emotions
Hours, days, weeks or years later, a woman may regret her decision to have an abortion leading to extreme despair and depression. Some women report that they have become more affected by the abortion then they originally thought. These women report feeling anxious, isolated and shameful following their abortions. If the woman has problems conceiving later in life or if she has multiple miscarriages, she may blame herself for her infertility or inability to carry a child to term.
Cancer
The likelihood that a woman will get breast cancer nearly doubles after one abortion and increase with each subsequent abortion, according to AfterAbortion.org, a website developed by the Elliot Institute, an organization that advocates for women's issues. In addition, women who have had at least one abortion face an increased risk for cervical, ovarian and liver cancer as compared to women who carried their child to term. The risk for these cancers doubles for women who have had two or more abortions. It is believed that the elevated risk levels post-abortion stem from untreated cervical damage and the constantly increasing estrogen levels that usually decrease after giving birth. High estrogen levels have been linked to variety of cancers.
Death
AfterAbortion.org states that women who abort prove approximately four times more likely to die in the following year than women who give birth to their baby. The leading causes of abortion related maternal deaths the week after an abortion include hemorrhage, infection, embolism, anesthesia and undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies. It is estimated that abortion proves the fifth leading cause of maternal death in the United States. In addition, women who have had an abortion at least one year before their deaths prove seven times more likely to die of suicide and 14 times more likely to die from homicide, says AfterAbortion.org. It is believed that feelings of regret and guilt cause some women to partake in reckless and suicidal before, following an abortion, adds AfterAbortion.org.
References
- AfterAbortion.org: A List of Major Physical Sequelae Related to Abortion
- AbortionFacts.com: Complications You Can Have With Your Abortion
- Pregnancy Centers: Learn About Abortion Procedures and Abortion Risks
- American Pregnancy Organization: Possible Emotional Effects of Abortions
- Pennsylvanians for Human Life: Scranton Chapter
