Information about Abortion Procedures (click here)

Risks: Immediate

• Hemorrhage – Sometimes women bleed heavily during and after an abortion.  Occasionally it is necessary to receive a transfusion to replace lost blood.  If you use RU-486, bleeding is expected to last 13-15 days or more.
  
  
• Infection – The uterus is susceptible to infection after an abortion especially if part of the baby or placenta is accidentally left inside of you.  Infections are more of a risk if you have Chlamydia or Gonorrhea.  You may have symptoms of pain and fever.  If left untreated, a very serious infection can develop and even result in infertility.
  
  
• Perforation – Sometimes the tools of an 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 have major surgery to repair the damage.  This complication can cause heavy bleeding.
  
  
• Death – Death has occurred after an abortion, although this is rare. The risk of death increases when abortion is done after the first three months of pregnancy.  The cause of death after an abortion is usually from heavy bleeding or complications with the medicines used for pain.

• Later pregnancy – Injury to the cervix may cause the early loss of future pregnancies.  Scarring which blocks the fallopian tubes, may also occur. This can keep you from becoming pregnant in the future or cause your risk for miscarriage to increase if you have had two or more abortions or a late term abortion.
  
  
• Continued pregnancy – The baby could be growing in your fallopian tubes rather than your uterus.  An abortion would miss this.  If the baby continued to grow in your tube – it is very dangerous and possibly fatal.
  
  
• Breast Cancer – 27 worldwide studies have independently linked an induced abortion with breast cancer.  Abortion interrupts the natural process of breast development, abruptly stopping cell growth, leaving the breast with extra cells that can become cancerous.
  
  
• Emotional risks – Some men and women experience an immediate feeling of relief following an abortion, but many have trouble coping with their feelings down the road.  These are often feelings the woman didn’t expect and are call Post-Abortion Stress. Feelings include: sadness, long-term grief and anger, flashbacks, guilt, anniversary reactions, drug and alcohol abuse, suicidal thoughts, and difficulty maintaining future relationships.  If you know someone who is experiencing these feelings – ask for help from one of our counselors.

Click here for a Safety Checklist to print out and take with you to the clinic.