The Aftermath of Abortion
Fact Sheet Courtesy of the
Elliot Institute, PO Box 73478 Springfield, IL 62791-7348
A LIST OF MAJOR PHYSICAL SEQUELAE
RELATED TO ABORTION 1
DEATH: The leading causes of abortion
related deaths are hemorrhage, infection, embolism, anesthesia, and undiagnosed ectopic
pregnancies. Legal abortion is reported as the fifth leading cause of maternal death in
the United States, though in fact it is recognized that most abortion related deaths are
not officially reported as such.(2)
BREAST CANCER: The risk of breast cancer
almost doubles after one abortion, and rises even further with two or more abortions.(3)
CERVICAL, OVARIAN, AND LIVER CANCER: Women
with one abortion face a 2.3 relative risk of cervical cancer, compared to non-aborted
women, and women with two or more abortions face a 4.92 relative risk. Similar elevated
risks of ovarian and liver cancer have also been linked to single and multiple abortions.
These increased cancer rates for post-aborted women are apparently linked to the unnatural
disruption of the hormonal changes which accompany pregnancy and untreated cervical
damage.(4)
UTERINE PERFORATION: Between 2 and 3% of all
abortion patients may suffer perforation of their uterus, yet most of these injuries will
remain undiagnosed and untreated unless laparoscopic visualization is performed.(5) Such
an examination may be useful when beginning an abortion malpractice suit. The risk of
uterine perforation is increased for women who have previously given birth and for those
who receive general anesthesia at the time of the abortion.(6) Uterine damage may result
in complications in later pregnancies and may eventually evolve into problems which
require a hysterectomy, which itself may result in a number of additional complications
and injuries including osteoporosis.
CERVICAL LACERATIONS: Significant cervical
lacerations requiring sutures occur in at least one percent of first trimester abortions.
Lesser lacerations, or micro fractures, which would normally not be treated may also
result in long term reproductive damage. Latent post-abortion cervical damage may result
in subsequent cervical incompetence, premature delivery, and complications of labor. The
risk of cervical damage is greater for teenagers, for second trimester abortions, and when
practitioners fail to use laminaria for dilation of the cervix.(7)
PLACENTA PREVIA: Abortion increases the risk
of placenta previa in later pregnancies (a life threatening condition for both the mother
and her wanted pregnancy) by seven to fifteen fold. Abnormal development of the placenta
due to uterine damage increases the risk of fetal malformation, perinatal death, and
excessive bleeding during labor.(8)
HANDICAPPED NEWBORNS IN LATER PREGNANCIES: Abortion
is associated with cervical and uterine damage which may increase the risk of premature
delivery, complications of labor and abnormal development of the placenta in later
pregnancies. These reproductive complications are the leading causes of handicaps among
newborns.(9)
ECTOPIC PREGNANCY: Abortion is significantly
related to an increased risk of subsequent ectopic pregnancies. Ectopic pregnancies, in
turn, are life threatening and may result in reduced fertility.(10)
PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE (PID): PID is a
potentially life threatening disease which can lead to an increased risk of ectopic
pregnancy and reduced fertility. Of patients who have a chlamydia infection at the time of
the abortion, 23% will develop PID within 4 weeks. Studies have found that 20 to 27% of
patients seeking abortion have a chlamydia infection. Approximately 5% of patients who are
not infected by chlamydia develop PID within 4 weeks after a first trimester abortion. It
is therefore reasonable to expect that abortion providers should screen for and treat such
infections prior to an abortion.(11)
ENDOMETRITIS: Endometritis is a
post-abortion risk for all women, but especially for teenagers, who are 2.5 times more
likely than women 20-29 to acquire endometritis following abortion.(12)
IMMEDIATE COMPLICATIONS: Approximately 10%
of women undergoing elective abortion will suffer immediate complications, of which
approximately one-fifth (2%) are considered life threatening. The nine most common major
complications which can occur at the time of an abortion are: infection, excessive
bleeding, embolism, ripping or perforation of the uterus, anesthesia complications,
convulsions, hemorrhage, cervical injury, and endotoxic shock. The most common
"minor" complications include: infection, bleeding, fever, second degree burns,
chronic abdominal pain, vomiting, gastro-intestinal disturbances, and Rh
sensitization.(13)
INCREASED RISKS FOR WOMEN SEEKING MULTIPLE ABORTIONS:
In general, most of the studies cited above reflect risk factors for women who
undergo a single abortion. These same studies show that women who have multiple abortions
face a much greater risk of experiencing these complications. This point is especially
noteworthy since approximately 45% of all abortions are for repeat aborters.
INCREASED RISKS FOR TEENAGERS: Teenagers,
who account for about 30 percent of all abortions, are also at much high risk of suffering
many abortion related complications. This is true of both immediate complications, and of
long-term reproductive damage.(14)
LOWER GENERAL HEALTH: In a survey of 1428
women researchers found that pregnancy loss, and particularly losses due to induced
abortion, was significantly associated with an overall lower health. Multiple abortions
correlated to an even lower evaluation of "present health." While miscarriage
was detrimental to health, abortion was found to have a greater correlation to poor
health. These findings support previous research which reported that during the year
following an abortion women visited their family doctors 80% more for all reasons and 180%
more for psychosocial reasons. The authors also found that "if a partner is present
and not supportive, the miscarriage rate is more than double and the abortion rate is four
times greater than if he is present and supportive. If the partner is absent the abortion
rate is six times greater." (15)
INCREASED RISK FOR CONTRIBUTING HEALTH RISK FACTORS: Abortion
is significantly linked to behavioral changes such as promiscuity, smoking, drug abuse,
and eating disorders which all contribute to increased risks of health problems. For
example, promiscuity and abortion are each linked to increased rates of PID and ectopic
pregnancies. Which contributes most is unclear, but apportionment may be irrelevant if the
promiscuity is itself a reaction to post- abortion trauma or loss of self esteem.
NOTES
1. An excellent resource for any attorney involved in abortion malpractice is Thomas
Strahan's Major Articles and Books Concerning the Detrimental Effects of Abortion
(Rutherford Institute, PO Box 7482, Charlottesville, VA 22906-7482, (804) 978-388.) This
resource includes brief summaries of major finding drawn from medical and psychology
journal articles, books, and related materials, divided into major categories of relevant
injuries.
2. Kaunitz, "Causes of Maternal Mortality in the United
States," Obstetrics and Gynecology, 65(5) May 1985.
3. H.L. Howe, et al., "Early Abortion and Breast Cancer
Risk Among Women Under Age 40," International Journal of Epidemiology 18(2):300-304
(1989); L.I. Remennick, "Induced Abortion as A Cancer Risk Factor: A Review of
Epidemiological Evidence," Journal of Epidemiological Community Health, (1990); M.C.
Pike, "Oral Contraceptive Use and Early Abortion as Risk Factors for Breast Cancer in
Young Women," British Journal of Cancer 43:72 (1981).
4. M-G, Le, et al., "Oral Contraceptive Use and Breast
or Cervical Cancer: Preliminary Results of a French Case- Control Study, Hormones and
Sexual Factors in Human Cancer Etiology, ed. JP Wolff, et al., Excerpta Medica: New York
(1984) pp.139-147; F. Parazzini, et al., "Reproductive Factors and the Risk of
Invasive and Intraepithelial Cervical Neoplasia," British Journal of Cancer,
59:805-809 (1989); H.L. Stewart, et al., "Epidemiology of Cancers of the Uterine
Cervix and Corpus, Breast and Ovary in Israel and New York City," Journal of the
National Cancer Institute 37(1):1-96; I. Fujimoto, et al., "Epidemiologic Study of
Carcinoma in Situ of the Cervix," Journal of Reproductive Medicine 30(7):535 (July
1985); N. Weiss, "Events of Reproductive Life and the Incidence of Epithelial Ovarian
Cancer," Am. J. of Epidemiology, 117(2):128-139 (1983); V. Beral, et al., "Does
Pregnancy Protect Against Ovarian Cancer," The Lancet, May 20, 1978, pp. 1083-1087;
C. LaVecchia, et al., "Reproductive Factors and the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
in Women," International Journal of Cancer, 52:351, 1992.
5. S. Kaali, et al., "The Frequency and Management of
Uterine Perforations During First-Trimester Abortions," Am. J. Obstetrics and
Gynecology 161:406-408, August 1989; M. White, "A Case-Control Study of Uterine
Perforations documented at Laparoscopy," Am. J. Obstetrics and Gynecology 129:623
(1977).
6. D. Grimes, et al., "Prevention of uterine perforation
During Curettage Abortion," JAMA, 251:2108-2111 (1984); D. Grimes, et al.,"Local
versus General Anesthesia: Which is Safer For Performing Suction Abortions?" Am. J.
of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 135:1030 (1979).
7. K. Schulz, et al., "Measures to Prevent Cervical
Injuries During Suction Curettage Abortion," The Lancet, May 28, 1983, pp 1182-1184;
W. Cates, "The Risks Associated with Teenage Abortion," New England Journal of
Medicine, 309(11):612-624; R. Castadot, "Pregnancy Termination: Techniques, Risks,
and Complications and Their Management," Fertility and Sterility, 45(1):5-16 (1986).
8. Barrett, et al., "Induced Abortion: A Risk Factor for
Placenta Previa", American Journal of Ob&Gyn. 141:7 (1981).
9. Hogue, Cates and Tietze, "Impact of Vacuum Aspiration
Abortion on Future Childbearing: A Review", Family Planning Perspectives (May-June
1983),vol.15, no.3.
10. Daling,et.al., "Ectopic Pregnancy in Relation to
Previous Induced Abortion", JAMA, 253(7):1005-1008 (Feb. 15, 1985); Levin, et.al.,
"Ectopic Pregnancy and Prior Induced Abortion", American Journal of Public
Health (1982), vol.72,p253; C.S. Chung, "Induced Abortion and Ectopic Pregnancy in
Subsequent Pregnancies," American Journal of Epidemiology 115(6):879-887 (1982)
11. T. Radberg, et al., "Chlamydia Trachomatis in
Relation to Infections Following First Trimester Abortions," Acta Obstricia
Gynoecological (Supp. 93), 54:478 (1980); L. Westergaard, "Significance of Cervical
Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection in Post-abortal Pelvic Inflammatory Disease,"
Obstetrics and Gynecology, 60(3):322-325, (1982); M. Chacko, et al., "Chlamydia
Trachomatosis Infection in Sexually Active Adolescents: Prevalence and Risk Factors,"
Pediatrics, 73(6), (1984); M. Barbacci, et al., "Post- Abortal Endometritis and
Isolation of Chlamydia Trachomatis," Obstetrics and Gynecology 68(5):668-690, (1986);
S. Duthrie, et al., "Morbidity After Termination of Pregnancy in
First-Trimester," Genitourinary Medicine 63(3):182-187, (1987).
12. Burkman, et al., "Morbidity Risk Among Young
Adolescents Undergoing Elective Abortion" Contraception, 30:99-105 (1984);
"Post-Abortal Endometritis and Isolation of Chlamydia Trachomatis," Obstetrics
and Gynecology 68(5):668- 690, (1986)
13. Frank, et.al., "Induced Abortion Operations and
Their Early Sequelae", Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners (April
1985),35(73):175-180; Grimes and Cates, "Abortion: Methods and Complications",
Human Reproduction, 2nd ed., 796-813; M.A. Freedman, "Comparison of complication
rates in first trimester abortions performed by physician assistants and physicians,"
Am. J. Public Health, 76(5):550- 554 (1986).
14. Wadhera, "Legal Abortion Among Teens,
1974-1978", Canadian Medical Association Journal, 122:1386-1389,(June 1980).
15. Ney, et.al., "The Effects of Pregnancy Loss on
Women's Health," Soc. Sci. Med. 48(9):1193-1200, 1994; Badgley, Caron, & Powell, Report
of the Committee on the Abortion Law, Supply and Services, Ottawa, 1997: 319-321.
Copyright 1997 Elliot Institute Compiled by David C. Reardon,
Ph.D.
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