Abortion is not an easy decision for a woman to make.
Some women choose it because of the lack of finances to raise a child, some out of fear to be single mothers and others because pregnancy came in a wrong period of their lives, when they have other priorities.
Both types of abortion: medical and surgical, have their risks and a woman has to be aware of them prior to making the final decision. It’s highly important for women not to rush with the choice and discuss it either with a member of their family or a professional.A professional such as a counselor can give them advice on abortion pill risks or the possible risks of surgical abortion.
Let’s learn more about the short-term and long-term risks of having an abortion.
Table of Contents
Incomplete abortion
It happens when the process of abortion it’s not entirely completed, leaving behind some tissue or blood clots in the uterus. The signs of recognizing it are heavy bleeding for a few days after the process, extreme stomach pain and fever.
When recognizing these symptoms it’s essential to go to a hospital and do an immediate ultrasound to check if you have some tissue or blood left, as this can lead to a severe infection with more serious consequences. These symptoms are more frequently caused by the medical abortion.
Infection in the pelvic area
This infection is caused when a bacteria from the female reproductive organ goes into the uterus and infects the pelvic area. It’s one of the most frequent complications which happen during abortion.
It‘s normally treated with antibiotics, but if the infection is more serious, it’s better to visit a doctor for further instructions. If not treated properly, it can lead to chronic pain in the pelvic area and increases the chances of infertility. Click here to read more information on the topic of pelvic inflammatory disease.
Injury of the cervix and uterus
This risk is associated with the surgical method of abortion. It’s not uncommon for the cervix to end up cut as a result of the instruments which are used for stretching it.
These instruments can also cause damage to the uterus wall in the form of scratches. Depending on the gravity of the cuts, more serious complications can arise, such as heavy bleeding or surgical removal of the uterus.
Influence on future pregnancies
Not all procedures reduce the chances of having children in the future. Those abortions which go well, without any complications, don’t affect the following pregnancies.
On the other hand, this which are accompanied by complications such as heavy bleeding or injury of the uterus may lower the fertility chances. The same goes for having multiple abortions.
Those women who get pregnant after this may experience some of the following symptoms: premature birth of the child, low weight of the born baby, problems with the placenta, bleeding in the first months of pregnancy etc.
Emotional and mental risk
Apart from the physical risks which may result from this procedure, women may also experience emotional and mental complications which follow the process. Every woman reacts differently after the abortion. Some women feel relieved because the process is finally over; others feel sad and guilty for making the wrong choice.
These feelings come from the women’s situation before the procedure. If the woman was forced by the partner or didn’t have another choice but abortion, usually the emotional consequences are bigger.
Some of the most common emotional reactions are regret, grief, depression, isolation, suicidal thoughts, obsession with babies, nightmares related to the this, becoming frigid etc. Some women even develop a post-abortion syndrome which is characterized by avoiding children who would be the same age as the aborted child, fear of infertility or fear that future children would also die.
Conclusion
Before making the decision to have an abortion, women must know all the potential risks and consequences followed by the procedure.
It’s a decision which has to be well-thought. Therefore women should talk to a counselor or seek advice in a pregnancy center.
These people will help them in the process of making the choice as well as afterwards, regardless of what they choose.