Sometimes, in case of an unexpected pregnancy, abortion is the only option left. There’s nothing wrong with abortion. In fact, Study suggests, Abortion is a completely safe and secure medical procedure to terminate a pregnancy.
However, Like any other medical procedure, There are small risks involved which rarely affect your ability for future pregnancy. Having An Abortion is not considered a major risk factor for infertility.
There can be multiple reasons for Abortion such as Unexpected Pregnancy, miscarriage, or any other life situation. If you want to have an abortion or Previously had an abortion, you might be concerned about whether abortion increases the risk of infertility or is safe for future pregnancy. So, Here in this blog, We are going to answer whether abortion causes infertility and what is the connection between Abortion and future pregnancy.
Abortion and fertility?
According to the IPAS Development Foundation in India, Abortion does not usually cause infertility or any kind of risk factor for future pregnancy. A woman can get pregnant and conceive a baby even after having an abortion. But as we said above, Every Medical treatment has its side effects and small risks involved, the same is the case with Abortion.
While there is no direct risk involved for infertility in Abortion, In a very rare and exceptional case, Asherman syndrome (A kind of Scarring) can cause future pregnancy issues.
What are the risks involved in Abortion?
Abortion is a medical treatment to terminate an unexpected pregnancy. According to the same IPAS Foundation, Abortion is a very low-risk medical treatment that generally does not cause any problems.
The Risk of complications in abortions widely depends on the stage and duration of pregnancy. The longer the delay in abortion, the greater the risk generally becomes. Thus, The risk of death and major complications are very rare and exceptional with Abortion.
Here are some of the potential complications or Risks involved in Abortion:
- Bleeding and Pain:
After an Abortion, A woman may experience bleeding and pain around their Reproductive organs. The Bleeding is generally not so extreme to count into medical risk and Pain also subsides with time.
- Infection and Injury:
Another rare Risk involved in Abortion is Infection. If not treated well, Abortion can lead to infection in Organs. To prevent infection doctors give antibiotics as well. In Addition, Abortion can also result in Injury. Sometimes in the process of Abortion, nearby organs may get injured.
- Cervical or Uterine Scarring:
Cervical or Uterine Scarring is another rare Complication with post-abortion. In this Complication, Scar tissues are formed in the Cervical and Uterine area preventing Fertility.
Scarring is one of the very few complications occurring from Abortion which may result in risk of Infertility in the future. But, Again the chances are Exceptional.
Types of Abortion and How Does it Affect Infertility?
There are mainly two types of abortion performed based on the progress of Pregnancy in the womb.
- Medical Abortion
A medical Abortion includes taking medications to terminate or induce pregnancy. These medications are used to end the pregnancy and avoid infection for future pregnancy. Medical abortion is used in the early stage of pregnancy. These medical abortions are effective until around 10 weeks of the pregnancy. However, before taking medical abortion steps, it is important to consult a gynecologist hospital near you for a better understanding.
- Surgical Abortion
Surgical Abortion is a more complex operation than Medical abortion. It is a minor Operation to remove the fetus and placenta from the uterus to end the pregnancy. This type of abortion takes place when Medical abortions are no longer useful and effective.
Sometimes What kind of Abortion you choose may also affect the risk of infertility in the future though it is very rare. Generally, Since Surgical abortion includes Surgical procedures, it is likely to be a little more risky than Medical Abortion.
Connection Between Abortion and fertility
The fear of Infertility due to abortion is a result of misinformation and misconceptions about the connection between these terms. Research suggests, there are no direct or major connections between Abortion and Infertility. Abortion normally does not affect future pregnancies. As per the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act of 2021, The Maximum age for Abortion in India is upto 24 weeks of pregnancy. Thus, It Automatically eliminates the risk of infertility.
Experts’ Advice, There is not much to concern and worry about for future pregnancy, if you are planning to have or had an abortion. It is Completely safe and women will be able to conceive a baby just like before the Abortion.
What is Asherman Syndrome?
Asherman Syndrome is a rare Syndrome or Medical condition occurring from Surgical procedures such as Dilation and Curettage (D&C). D&C procedure is used to remove tissue from the lining of the uterus. Thus, It involves the risk of damaging the uterine lining.
In the context of abortion, This Procedure is often used for later pregnancy at around 14 weeks. However, Asherman syndrome is very rare and does not occur normally. It causes Scar tissue/Adhesions to form inside the uterus and thus block or reduce the space within the uterus.
The Blocked or reduced space in the uterus then results in difficulty for future pregnancy. Though, Doctors can treat Asherman Syndrome as well with surgery. Doctors usually treat this condition by placing a small balloon inside the uterus for a few days to keep the uterus open until it heals.
Conclusion
In Conclusion, Abortion Alone does not increase the risk of Infertility in any way. Both types of abortion, medical and surgical, appear to be safe and low-risk treatments. It does not include any major risks and complications for future fertility issues. However, there are some rare and exceptional risks involved in surgical abortion such as Asherman syndrome which can lead to infertility. But, The best thing is that it is also treatable by a minor Surgical operation.
Whether it is about Abortion or fertility, Suggestions from the right gynecologist are necessary. Consult all your pregnancy and abortion doubts with the best lady gynecologist in Karnal and navigate through a healthy lifestyle.
