Abortion Complications


  • Infection - ranges from mild to fatal; sometimes caused by pieces of the baby being left inside the womb.
  • Likelihood of miscarriage is three time greater after an abortion.
  • premature deliver of future babies because of damage to the cervix; over 3,000 children each year develop cerebral palsy because of their premature delivery after the mother's previous abortion.
  • Heavy bleeding (hemorrhage)
  • Use of RU-486 can also cause bleeding which can go on for a month.
  • Cervical laceration (tearing of the opening to the womb) occurs to 5% of women.
  • Puncture or tearing of the womb (can occur, but go unnoticed and untreated).
  • If the bleeding is severe enough, or if the puncture in the womb is severe, it may become necessary to remove the uterus (hysterectomy).
  • Risk of ectopic (tubal) pregnancy increases by 30% after one abortion; 160% after two or more abortions; this causes you to lose the baby and your fallopian tube, thereby reducing your chance of conceiving another baby.
  • Sterility - statistics show between 1 out of 50 to 1 out of 20 women can never have another baby.
  • Infertility - caused by scraping that damages the lining of the uterus, leaving "scarring" that makes it difficult to get pregnant again.
  • Breast cancer - a National Cancer Institute study found a 50% increased risk of breast cancer among 1,800 women who had abortions. The risk was doubled for those women whose abortion took place before age 18 or over age 30. The majority of studies uphold these results.
  • Psychological disturbances, including feelings of guilt, depression, feelings of detachment from others, increased drug or alcohol abuse, nightmares and flashbacks, decreased maternal bonding, insomnia and suicidal thoughts. These can occur years after the abortion.
The death rate associated with abortion is 3 times higher than childbirth.
~ American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2004;

In medical practice, there are few surgical procedures given so little attention and so underrated in its potential hazards as abortion. It is a commonly held view that complications are inevitable.
~Abortionist Warren Hern, Abotion Practice (2nd edition)