Legally performed abortions are relatively safe. Complications rarely occur.

Excessive loss of blood, uterine perforation and infection, and an incomplete abortion are the most frequent complications. These complications are rare when the procedure is performed by a competent provider in an adequate facility.

Teenagers may not be aware that they are pregnant until the second trimester and could increase the danger to their own lives with second trimester abortions. Infection resulting from the procedure occurs most commonly in women who have a preexisting gonorrheal or chlamydial infection.

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if an unplanned pregnancy occurs and you want information about the choice of elective abortion.

Call your health care provider if an elective or therapeutic abortion has been performed and vaginal bleeding continues beyond what was predicted, or if you continue to have symptoms of pregnancy or severe pain. Excessive bleeding can cause shock. Continued pain or pregnancy symptoms may indicate a possible ectopic or tubal pregnancy.

Call your health care provider if signs of infection develop, including persistent fever, foul odor to vaginal drainage, vaginal drainage that looks like pus, or abdominal pain or tenderness.

Images

First trimester of pregnancy

Normal uterine anatomy (cut section)

Early weeks of pregnancy

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Review Date: 09/19/2006
Reviewed By: Audra Robertson, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)