(Note: This information is intended for general education purposes only, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical advice.)

1. Bleeding: the abortion procedure itself results in blood loss; this can be increased if there is infection, or damage to organs, such as a cervical tear or laceration.
2. Infection: Infection can develop from the insertion of medical instruments into the uterus, or from fetal parts that are mistakenly left inside (known as incomplete abortion) or if there is an undiagnosed gonorrhea or chlamydia infection present at the time of the procedure. A pelvic infection can lead to persistent fever, extended hospitalization, scarring of the pelvic organs, sepsis (widespread infection throughout bloodstream and body) and even death.
3. Organ Damage: organs can be torn and/or weakened during the abortion:
• Cervical tear or laceration: this can cause excessive bleeding and require surgical repair.
• Scarring of the uterine lining: Suction tubing, curettes, and other abortion instruments may cause permanent scarring of the uterine lining
• Perforation of the uterus: The uterus may be punctured or torn by the surgical instruments. The risk of this complication increases with the length of the pregnancy. If this occurs, major surgery may be necessary, including removal of the uterus (hysterectomy).
• Damage to internal organs: the uterus may be accidentally punctured by instruments resulting in damage to other internal organs such as the bladder, intestines, bowel and blood vessels. Major surgery may be necessary to repair damaged organs, resulting in extended hospitalization.

1. Rh sensitization. Women who are Rh negative should receive Rhogam after an abortion to prevent the immune system from making antibodies against Rh that could cause serious problems with the next pregnancy. In a future pregnancy with an Rh positive fetus, the antibodies can attack the fetus’s red blood cells and cause anemia and be life-threatening for the baby, if untreated.
2. Loss of relationship with partner: based upon statistics, the majority of relationships end within 6 months of the abortion
3. Damaged relationships with people associated with getting the abortion (boyfriend, spouse, parents, friends, etc.)
4. Psychological stress: There is evidence that abortion is associated with a decrease in emotional health. For some women, these negative emotions may be very strong, and can appear within days, or, more typically, after many years. This psychological response is a form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can have a significant impact on future well-being.
5. Abortion and risk of breast cancer: Carrying your first pregnancy to full term gives a measure of protection against breast cancer. Choosing abortion causes loss of that protection. In addition, a number of reliable studies have concluded that there may be a link between abortion and the later development of breast cancer.
6. Risk of preterm birth in future: scientific studies have shown that women who have had one or more abortions have a significantly increased risk of having a premature delivery with future pregnancies. This risk increases with increasing numbers of abortions. Prematurity, particularly with birth weights of less than 3 pounds, is associated with respiratory distress, brain hemorrhage, bowel problems and a high risk for cerebral palsy which results in life-long disability for the affected person.

Regardless of what your current religious beliefs are; there is a spiritual side to abortion that bears consideration. Your well-being is dependent upon your total health- physically, emotionally, relationally AND spiritually.  Having an abortion may affect more than your body and emotions. It may have an impact on how you see God and your relationship with Him. What does God think about your situation? How does He see the unborn? These are important issues for you to consider.

Note: Care Net Pregnancy Center does not provide or refer for abortion or abortifacients.

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2. TeLinde’s Operative Gynecology, Eighth Edition, John A. Rock, John D. Thompson; Lippincott-Raven Publishers; 1997; pp477, 493, 579.

3. ACOG Patient education pamphlet:” The Rh Factor, How It Can Affect Your Pregnancy”; ACOG, October 2005.

4. The Elliot Institute; www.afterabortion.org ; 12/6/2005; “A List of Major Psychological Sequelae of Abortion”.

5. U.S. Food and Drug Administration; www.fda.gov ; July 19, 2005; FDA issues health advisory for mifepristone and adds Black Box warning to package insert.

6. ACOG Practice Bulletin; “Medical Management of Tubal Pregnancy”; Number 3, December 1998.

7. Williams Obstetrics 20th Edition, Cunningham, MacDonald, Gant, Leveno, Gilstrap, Hankins and Clark; Publishers: Appleton and Lange; 1997: p 600

8. Gabbe: Obstetrics- Normal and Problem Pregnancies, 4th Edition. 2002 Churchill Livingstone, Inc.; p 624-633.

9. ACOG Practice Bulletin: “Medical Management of Abortion”, Number 26, April 2001.

10. Mifeprex package insert; 9/28/2000.

11. Medscape Medical News; “Mifeprex May Be Associated With Risk of Serious Complications, Death”; Yael Waknine; 2004; WebMD Inc.

12. Plan B Package Insert; Women’s Capital Corporation, 1990 M Street, NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20036.

13. Medscape; Emergency Contraception; Cleveland Clinic; 2004.

14. World Health Organization, “Emergency Contraception: A Guide for Service Delivery”, Geneva, Switzerland, 1998.

15. Concerned Women for America, Wendy Wright, Senior Policy Director; Letter to FDA Advisory Committee on Reproductive Drugs; December 2003.
 
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17. Daling, et al, “Risk of Breast Cancer Among Young Women: Relationship to Induced Abortion”, Journal of the National Cancer Institute Vol 86(21); 1994.

18. Howe, et al, “Induced abortion and breast cancer”; Int J Epidemiol 18:300-4; 1989.

19. Thorp, JM, et al, “Long-term physical and psychological health consequences of induced abortion: review of the evidence”, OB GYN Survey, vol 58(1):67-79; 2002.

20. Rue, VM, Coleman PK, et al, “Induced abortion ad traumatic stress: a preliminary comparison of American and Russian women”:, www.mediscimonit.com 2004; 10(10);SR5-16.