Can an abortion hurt me?

Induced or elective abortions produce more than a dead fetus. There are dangers for the woman having an abortion as well.

Complications from abortion include:
• 
 Heavy bleeding
• 
 Infection
• 
 Incomplete abortion
• 
 Allergic reaction to drugs
• 
 Post abortion stress
• 
 Tearing of the cervix (opening to the womb)
• 
 Scarring of the uterine lining
•  Perforation of the uterus
•  Damage to internal organs
•  Death


Psychologically, many women report:
• 
 Feelings of guilt, depression, anger
• 
 Feelings of detachment from others
• 
 Relationship problems
• 
 Anniversary grief
• 
 Lack of interest in sex
• 
 Sexual dysfunction
• 
 Diminished self-worth
•  Psychological “numbing”
•  Nightmares and flashbacks
•  Alcohol and drug abuse
•  Difficulty in bonding with children
•  Preoccupation with becoming pregnant again
•  Eating disorders
•  Self-punishing or self-degrading behaviors

Sometimes these symptoms don't show up for years after an abortion.

There are also dangers to future, wanted children:
• 
 Sterility (one out of twenty women who abort may never again bear children)
• 
 Miscarriages
• 
 Premature births
• 
 Ectopic (tubal) pregnancies
• 
 Neo-natal deaths

Among teenage women, the effects of abortion on later wanted pregnancies appear to be even worse than among women in general.

Women who have sexually transmitted diseases like Chlamydia or gonorrhea at the time of their abortions run the risk of spreading the disease to their upper genital tracts. This is known as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, or PID, and is a major cause of miscarriages, ectopic (tubal) pregnancies, and sterility. Some women do not become aware they have PID until they have problems conceiving other children.

If you are experiencing a problem pregnancy, seek help from someone who will tell you about all the risks involved with abortion. There are alternatives to abortion.