Abortion Risks
Like any medical procedure, abortions can pose a risk to your physical and emotional health.Physical Risks:
General Side Effects
Some possible side effects of medical and surgical abortion procedures include: cramping, bleeding, nausea, diarrhea and pain.
Medical (Medication) Abortion
If the abortion pill fails, you will be required to have a surgical abortion.
Surgical Abortion
During surgical abortions, it is difficult to see inside your uterus during the process, which causes a high risk of abortion tools to be pushed through your uterus wall. There is also a greater risk of infection because your cervix must be opened wider.
Additional Risks:
- Damage to the womb or cervix
- Uterine perforation (accidentally putting a hole in the uterus with one of the instruments used)
- Excessive bleeding
- Infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes
- Scarring of the inside of the uterus
- Reaction to the medicines or anesthesia, such as problems breathing
- Not removing all of the tissue, with the need for another procedure
It is possible to experience hemorrhage, pre-term birth in later pregnancies, and death.
Emotional Risks:
An abortion can pose emotional risks along with physical. While some women may be relieved after an abortion, others may struggle with difficult feelings. Psychologists have labeled this emotional reaction as post-abortion stress. Feelings associated with post-abortion stress include:
- sadness
- anger
- guilt/emotional pain
- sexual dysfunction
- difficulty maintaining relationships memory repression
- increased alcohol and drug abuse
- flashbacks
- long-term grief
- anniversary reactions
- suicidal thoughts
If you are considering an abortion, it is important to thoughtfully consider the potential risk factors.