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Infertility
The relative risk of secondary infertility among women with at least one induced abortion and no
spontaneous miscarriages was 3-4 times that among non-aborted women. Reference: D. Trichopoulos
et al., "Induced Abortion & Secondary Infertility," British Jour. OB/GYN, vol. 83, Aug. 1976,
pp. 645-650
In 1974 Dr. Bohumil Stipal, Czechoslovakia's Deputy Minister of Health, stated: "Roughly 25% of
the women who interrupt their first pregnancy have remained permanently childless." If the
abortionist's curette scrapes or cuts too deeply across the opening of the tubes, there is
scar formation and often, blockage. If total, the woman is sterile. But when partial blockage
is a result of this procedure, the microscopic sperm can still travel through the tube to
fertilize the ovum as it breaks out of the ovary. After fertilization, this new human life,
many hundred times larger than the sperm, may not be able to get back through the tube if it
has been partly scarred closed. Then, the tiny baby nests in the tube, and the mother has an
extopic pregnancy.
Synechia
"The frequency of uterine adhesions [synechia] is especially high among patients who have had
two or more curettages.... Dr. J. G. Asherman, for whom the syndrome is named, has reported
intrauterine adhesions in 44 of 65 women who had two or more curettages." Reference:
"Abortions Risks: Getting the Picture," Medical World News, Oct. 20, 1972
Do miscarriages occur more frequently after induced abortions?
A Boston study by a group who have aggressively done abortions denied any increase after one
abortion, but, after two or more abortions, they did find a "two- to threefold increase in
risk of first trimester spontaneous abortions," as well as "losses up to 28 weeks gestation."
Reference: Levin et al,. "Association of Induced Abortion with Subsequent Pregnancy Loss,"
JAMA, vol. 243, no. 24, June 27, 1980, pp. 2495-2499 "
Of a group of 52 women who had induced abortions 10-15 years previously and who were followed
very closely for that length of time, it was found that one-half (27) had no problem with
subsequent pregnancies. There was one ectopic pregnancy, eight subsequent -- but long-delayed --
conceptions, and three women with permanently blocked tubes. Of the remaining 11 women, there
were 33 pregnancies with 14 early and 3 midtrimester losses, 6 premature deliveries, and only
10 full-term birth. Reference: In New Perspectives on Human Abortion, edited by s. Lembrych.
University Publications of America, 1981, pp. 128-134
"A high incidence of cervical incompetence resultant from abortion has raised the incidence
of spontaneous abortions (miscarriage) to 30-40% Reference: ibid, Kodasek
Women who had one induced abortion had a 17.5% miscarriage rate in subsequent pregnancies, as
compared to a 7.5% rate in a non-aborted group. Reference: Richardson &n Dickson, "Effects of
Legal Termination on Subsequent Pregnancy." British Med. Jour., vol. 1, 1975, pp. 1303-4
What about second trimester losses?
There was a doubles incidence of midtrimester spontaneous losses.Reference: Herlap, New England Jour.
of Med.,, no. 301, 1979, pp. 667-681
"In a series of 520 patients who had previously been aborted, 8.1% suffered a mid-trimester
loss (compared to 2.4% controls)." Reference: G. Ratter et al., "Effect of Abortion on Maturity
of Subsequent Pregnancy." Med. Jour. of Australia, June 1979, pp. 479-480
"There was a tenfold increase in the number of second trimester miscarriages in pregnancies
which followed a vaginal abortion." Reference: Wright et al., "Second Trimester Abortion after
Vaginal Termination of Pregnancy." The Lancet, June 10 1972
What of placenta previa?
Placenta previa is when the afterbirth (placenta) covers part or all of the cervix, the womb's
opening into the birth canal. It can be very serious and usually requires a Cesarean section,
sometimes with loss of the baby. Doctor Barrett and others did a study at Vanderbilt University
in which they evaluated over 5,000 deliveries and found that those who had prior induced abortions
in the first trimester had a "seven to fifteen fold increased prevalence of placenta previa."
They linked it to scarring of the lining of the womb from the curettage or suctions aspiration
"predisposing to the abnormal site of placental implantation and an increased placental surface
area." They also found that the changes occurred with the first induced abortion and were
permanent. Neither the time elapsed nor the number of induced abortions changed this.
Reference: In New Perspectives on Human Abortion, edited by S. Lembrych. University
Publications of America, 1981, pp. 128-134
"We rather often observe complications such as rigidity of the cervical os, placenta adherens,
placenta accreta, and atony of the uterus." Reference: A. Kodasek, "Artificial Termination of
Pregnancy in Czechoslovakia," Internatl. Jour. of GYN & OB, vol. 9, no. 3, 1971
"We cannot exclude the possibility that the large number of induced abortions plays a role in
the remarkable increase in cases of placenta previa." Reference: Z. Bognar, "Mortality and
Morbidity Associated with Legal Abortions in Hungary, 1961-1973" Amer. Jour. Public Health, 1976,
pp. 568-575
What of uterine ruptures?
This condition occurs during labor in almost 1% of cases when women have had earlier first
trimester abortions. Reference: Herlap New England Jour. of Med., no. 301, June 27, 1979,
pp. 677-681
Six percent of women who become pregnant after hysterotomy abortions suffered rupture of their
uterus. Substantial risk of rupture was demonstrated in 26% of these cases. Babies who were
born subsequently were small for their due date. Reference: Clow & Crompton, "The Wounded Uterus:
Pregnancy after Hysterotomy," British Med. Jour., Feb. 10, 1973, p. 321
Uterine rupture (1%) is also one of the feared and sometimes fatal complications from
prostaglandin abortions. Reference: Duenhalter & Gant, "Complications Following Prostaglandin
Mid-Trimester Abortion," OB & BYN, Vol. 46, no.3, Sept. 1975, pp. 247-250
What about endometriosis?
This can develop along the needle or catheter tract from the midtrimester puncture. Reference:
Ferrare et al., Abdominal Wall Endometriosis Following Saline Abortion, edited by S. Lembrych.
University Publications of America, 1981, pp. 128-134
Do abortions affect Rh sensitization?
"Even in very early suction abortions done prior to eight weeks, fetal-maternal hemorrhage can
occur, thereby sensitizing Rh-negative women." Reference: M. Leong, "Rh Therapy Recommended in
Very Early Abortion," OB-GYN Observer, June 1978
This means that in later pregnancies, babies of these mothers will have Rh problems, need
transfusions, and occasionally be born dead or die after birth. This can be tested for prior
to the abortion and largely prevented by giving the mother a very expensive medication called
RhoGAM. If not done, the number who become sensitized varies from "3% to 17%." Unfortunately,
many abortion chambers do not take this expensive precaution. Reference: J. Queenan, Cornell
University medical World News, April 30, 1971, p. 36G
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