Considering abortion?
A permanent decision
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ike many decisions in life, the consequences of deciding to abort are permanent and serious. Women who abort are seldom warned of the possible consequences – a serious violation of medical ethics. You may be asked to sign a consent form at the abortion clinic before having an abortion. Read the form carefully. By signing the form you will be accepting the risks. If you decide to have an abortion after weighing the risks, print this page and take it along with you. Ask the doctor to explain the risks listed here. Don’t be intimidated. Get the facts. It is your body, and it’s you who will suffer the effects if anything goes wrong.
Physical Risks
As someone considering an abortion, you have the right to be aware of these complications:
• HEMORRHAGE: Sometimes women bleed heavily during an abortion or a few days afterwards. With a medical abortion (the abortion pill or RU-486) bleeding can last 13-15 days or more. Occasionally it is necessary to receive a transfusion to replace the lost blood. Sometimes a second curettage procedure or a hysterectomy is needed to stop the bleeding.
• INFECTION: The uterus is susceptible to infection right after an abortion, especially if part of the baby or placenta is accidentally left inside of you. Infections are even more of a risk if you have Chlamydia or Gonorrhea. Symptoms are pain and fever. This is generally treated with antibiotics but sometimes another curettage procedure must be used. If untreated, a very serious infection can develop and could result in infertility.
• PERFORATION: Sometimes the tools of abortion are accidentally pushed through the wall of the uterus during an abortion. If the instrument damages one of your internal organs, it may be necessary to do major surgery to repair the damage. This complication can cause extensive bleeding.
• EFFECTS ON LATER PREGNANCY: Injury to the cervix may cause the early loss of a later wanted pregnancy. Scarring, which blocks your fallopian tubes, may also occur. This can keep you from becoming pregnant in the future. The risk of miscarriage in later pregnancies is higher if a woman has had two or more abortions.
• CONTINUED PREGNANCY: The fetus may be growing in your fallopian tube rather than in your uterus. An abortion procedure would miss this. The continued growth of the fetus in your tube is dangerous and potentially fatal.
• BREAST CANCER: There are a number of scientific studies which show a link between abortion and breast cancer.
• DEATH: Death has occurred after abortion, although this is rare. When abortion is done after the first three months of pregnancy, the risk of death increases. The cause of death by abortion is usually from heavy bleeding or from complications with the drugs used for pain.
Emotional Risks
Some women experience an immediate feeling of relief following an abortion, but may find themselves later coping with feelings they did not expect. They may have a difficult time talking about these feelings. Some psychologists have labeled these problems as Post Abortion Stress. The symptoms of Post Abortion Stress, listed here, span a wide range and can affect men who have lost a child to an abortion as well as women:
• Sadness
• Long-term grief reactions
• Anger
• Sexual dysfunction
• Guilt
• Flashbacks
• Memory repression
• Anniversary reactions
• Hallucinations
• Suicidal ideas
• Increased alcohol & drug use
• Difficulty keeping close relationships
Some people’s experiences
“I had an abortion when I was 19. It seemed like a really logical thing to do. I could hardly pay my bills and wanted to get a decent job. My boyfriend didn’t say much. He wanted to be supportive and thought his silence was support. We later married, and admitted that we both regretted the decision. Anonymous
We were surprised at how much we mourned the loss of that baby. We have both been depressed at various times, have experienced intense anger with each other over the abortion, and felt a lot of shame. Finally both of us spent time in a support group for people who had abortions. I never expected that I would carry this emotional weight into my 30’s. We now have two children but we still regret the one we lost to that quick abortion decision.” Anonymous
“At first I denied it and repressed it and tried to escape from it. It was the family secret. I dove heavily into drugs and sex, and was constantly having pregnancy tests for fear that I was pregnant.” Laura
“After the abortion I started drinking. All through college, I drank, experimented with drugs, and ran from the pain. I was severely bulimic. About ten years later I sought counseling for my eating disorders…I was on the verge of suicide. It was at that time I realized that the root of my problem was the abortion.” Rachel, whose boyfriend pressured her to abort at 17.
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