Abortion Pregnancy:

Abortion is not just a simple medical procedure. Abortion pregnancy can be a life changing event with significant physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences. Women who struggle with past abortions often express their disappointment in not having been told all of the facts about abortion and its risks prior to undergoing the procedure.

Side Effects and Complications

Side effects of abortion pregnancy may occur, whether it was performed surgically or by pill. These can include abdominal pain and cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bleeding, infection, and damage to organs. Serious complications occur in less than 1% of early abortions and about 2% of later abortions.

Complications can include:

• Heavy Bleeding:

  If the cervix is torn or the uterus is punctured, severe bleeding known as hemorrhaging may occur.

• Infection:

  Infections can develop from the insertion of medical instruments or fetal parts mistakenly left inside.

• Incomplete Abortion:

  Fetal parts mistakenly left inside after the abortion may result in bleeding and infection.

• Sepsis:

  Total body infection.

• Anesthesia:

  Complications from general anesthesia.

• Damage to the Cervix:

  The cervix may be cut, torn, or damaged by abortion instruments.

• Scarring of the Uterine Lining:

  Suction tubing, curettes, or other abortion instruments can cause permanent scarring of the uterine lining.

• Perforation of the Uterus:

  The uterus may be accidentally punctured or torn by abortion instruments.

• Damage to Internal Organs:

  There is always some risk that damage will occur to nearby organs such as the bowel and bladder.

• Death:

  Physical complications from abortion including excessive bleeding, infection, organ damage from a perforated uterus, and adverse reactions to anesthesia can lead to death. This is a rare, but real cause for caution.

Unintended Pregnancy — The Root of Abortion:

• More than a third of the roughly 205 million annual pregnancies worldwide are unintended. About 22% of them end in abortion.
• Of the 23 million pregnancies in developed countries, more than 40% are unintended. 28% end in abortion.
• Of the 182 million pregnancies in developing countries, more than a third are unintended. 19% end in abortion.
• The average woman must use effective contraception for at least 20 years if she wants to limit her family size to two children, and 16 years for four children.
• 66% of unintended pregnancies in developing countries are among women not using contraception.
• More than 100 million married women in developing countries have an unmet need for contraception, meaning they are:
  • Sexually active
  • Able to become pregnant
  • Not wanting to have a child soon or at all
  • Not using contraception
• The primary reasons some women do not use contraceptives are:
  • Concerns about possible health and side-effects
  • The belief that they are not at risk of getting pregnant

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