Most abortions, whether or not medical or procedural, are secure when carried out by educated healthcare suppliers. However as with all medical intervention, there are some dangers to pay attention to.
An infection
An infection is among the extra critical problems of abortions, although it’s unusual, explains Dr. Robles.
You might develop an an infection of the uterus (known as endometritis) if micro organism enter the uterus throughout or after the process. If left untreated, endometritis can unfold to the fallopian tubes and ovaries, inflicting pelvic inflammatory illness (PID), says Robles. PID could cause scarring or blockages within the fallopian tubes, which can make it more durable to get pregnant sooner or later, he provides.
Healthcare suppliers usually give antibiotics on the time of procedural abortions to forestall an infection, says Eve Feinberg, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist, infertility specialist, and the medical director at Northwestern Fertility and Reproductive Drugs in Chicago. However an an infection can nonetheless happen, notably if an abortion is carried out underneath unsafe situations, resembling with out clear, sterilized gear or by somebody with out correct medical coaching.
Extreme Bleeding
Heavy bleeding can happen after both sort of abortion. Extreme bleeding is an even bigger danger with medical abortions, says Prati Sharma, MD, a board-certified gynecologist, reproductive endocrinologist, and infertility specialist, and a medical adviser at Chook&Be.
In uncommon instances, extreme bleeding could require drugs to manage it or a blood transfusion, says Dr. Feinberg. Whereas it may be alarming, extreme bleeding usually doesn’t have an effect on fertility, explains Robles.
Generally, not all the being pregnant tissue is expelled or faraway from the uterus after an abortion (generally known as an incomplete abortion). When this happens, you could require a follow-up process, like a dilation and evacuation, to take away the remaining tissue, says Robles.
An incomplete abortion itself often doesn’t have an effect on fertility. However repeated procedures can improve the chance of uterine scarring, which may have an effect on the flexibility to get pregnant sooner or later, he provides.
Asherman’s Syndrome
Asherman’s syndrome is a uncommon situation during which scar tissue varieties contained in the uterus. It’s extra possible after surgical procedures like dilation and curettage (D&C) or if a number of procedures are wanted, says Robles.
This situation can intervene with the menstrual cycle and make it more durable for a fertilized egg to connect to the uterine wall, which must occur for being pregnant to proceed, says Robles. It may additionally improve the chance of miscarriage. However Asherman’s syndrome can usually be handled with surgical procedure.
Uterine Perforation
A small gap can by chance happen within the uterine wall throughout a surgical abortion, says Feinberg. That is known as a uterine perforation and infrequently occurs. “Most uterine perforations heal with none long-term penalties,” she says. But when the perforation impacts blood vessels within the uterus, it may well trigger vital bleeding and should require emergency surgical procedure, resembling a hysterectomy, she says.
A uterine perforation can even weaken the uterine muscle, says Dr. Sharma. This weak point could result in issues with future pregnancies, resembling uterine rupture (during which the uterus tears) or points with the placenta (the organ within the uterus that provides vitamins and oxygen to the newborn).
