Future Childbearing and Infertility

The risks are fewer when an abortion is done in the early weeks of pregnancy. The further along you are in your pregnancy, the greater the chance of serious complications. Some complications associated with an abortion, such as infection or a cut or torn cervix, may make it difficult or impossible to become pregnant in the future or to carry a pregnancy to term. Some large studies have reported a doubling of the risk of premature birth in later pregnancy if a woman has had two induced abortions. The same studies report an 800 percent increase in the risk of extremely early premature births (less than 28 weeks) for a woman who has experienced four or more induced abortions. Very premature babies, who have the highest risk of death, also have the highest risk for lasting disabilities, such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, lung and gastrointestinal problems, and vision and hearing loss.

Pregnancy

Although every pregnancy has some risk of problems, continuing a pregnancy and delivering a baby is usually a safe, healthy process. Based on data from the CDC, the risk of dying as a direct result of pregnancy and childbirth is 17.8 in 100,000 live births. At 42.8 in 100,000, the risk is higher for African-Americans.

The most common causes of death for pregnant women are:

  • emboli (blood clots affecting the heart and brain);
  • eclampsia (high blood pressure compl ications
  • affecting pregnancy);
  • heavy bleeding (Hemorrhaging);
  • sepsis (severe infection);
  • cerebral vascular accidents (stroke, bleeding in
  • the brain); and
  • anesthesia-related deaths.

Altogether, these causes account for 80 percent of all deaths relating to a woman's pregnancy. Unknown or uncommon causes account for the remaining 20 percent of deaths related to pregnancy. Women who have chronic severe diseases are at greater risk of death than healthy women.

Continuing your pregnancy also includes a risk of experiencing complications that are not always life-threatening.

  • Approximately 15 to 20 of every 100 pregnant women require Caesarean delivery (C-section).
  • One in 10 women may develop infection during or after delivery.
  • About one in 20 pregnant women has blood pressure problems.
  • One in 20 women suffer from excessive blood loss at delivery.

Labor is when a pregnant woman's uterus contracts and pushes or delivers the baby from her body. The baby may be delivered through the woman's vagina or by cesarean section. A cesarean section is a surgical procedure.
The following are possible side effects and risks associated with vaginal delivery:

  • injury to the bladder or rectum;
  • a hole (fistula) between the bladder and vagina or the rectum and vagina;
  • heavy bleeding (hemorrhaging);
  • inability to get pregnant in the future due to infection or complication from an operation;
  • emergency treatment for any of the above problems, including the possible need to treat with an operation, medicines or blood transfusion; and
  • rarely, death.

The following are possible side effects and risks associated with Cesarean
delivery (C-section):

  • injury to the bowel or bladder;
  • inability to get pregnant in the future due to infection or complication from an operation;
  • heavy bleeding (hemorrhaging);
  • injury to the tube (ureter) between the kidney and bladder;
  • a possible hysterectomy as a result of complication or injury during the procedure;
  • complications from anesthesia such as respiratory problems, headaches or drug reactions;
  • emergency treatment for any of the above problems, including the possible need to treat with an operation, medicines or a blood transfusion; and
  • rarely, death.