What Are Common Physical Dangers of Surgical Abortion?

It is interesting to note that pro-abortionists exaggerated the physical risks of illegal abortion for the purpose of political gain, and now understate and cover up the dangers of legal abortion for exactly the same reason.

Warren Hern, one of the most prolific abortionists in the United States, has admitted that,

"in medical practice, there are few surgical procedures given so little attention and so underrated in its potential hazards as abortion. It is a commonly held view that complications are inevitable."1

Despite what Hern and other abortionists have revealed, many pro-abortion organizations -- including the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARRAL) and the National Abortion Federation (NAF) -- circulate glossy "fact sheets" purporting to "show" that abortion is extremely safe for the mother, both physically and mentally. These groups do not mention that their "fact sheets" include only very conservative estimates of those injuries that occur during or immediately after the abortion itself in countries with modern medicine. These are commonly referred to as "on-the-table" complications. The pro-abortion "fact sheets" also ignore problems that occur after women leave abortion centers, and do not mention those due to ancillary causes such as resulting ectopic pregnancies and severe nervous system and brain damage from "anesthetic misadventures."

Some of the more common physical dangers of abortion are:2

Death. As many as 100 women currently die from legal abortions in the United States every year. However, the vast majority of these deaths are not reported as being caused by abortion. Instead, coroners attribute them to other causes, such as "blood poisoning," "anesthetic misadventure," or "spontaneous gangrene of the ovaries."

Uterine Perforation. Between two and three percent of aborted women suffer perforations of the uterus. Most of the perforations caused during first-trimester abortions go undiagnosed, and may lead to problems that may require a hysterectomy or other major corrective surgery, which in itself entails physical and psychological complications. Perforations occurring during late-term abortions are more frequent and are always serious in nature.

Cervical Lacerations. Cervical lacerations requiring sutures occur in about one percent of all first-trimester abortions. Less severe undiagnosed cervical damage may result in subsequent cervical incompetence, premature delivery and labor complications. Cervical damage and scarring of the endometrium from abortion may also increase the risk of abnormal development of the placenta in subsequent pregnancies, thus increasing the risk of birth defects.

Breast Cancer. As described further in Question 20, the risk of breast cancer more than doubles after one abortion and grows even greater with subsequent abortions. Cervical, Ovarian, and Liver Cancer. Women who have had one abortion more than double their risks of cervical, ovarian, and liver cancer, and women with more than one abortion quadruple their risks.

Placenta Previa. Placenta previa involves a placenta being superimposed upon the os, and causes severe hemorrhage during labor. Abortion increases the risk of this condition by a factor of from 700 to 1,500 percent. Placenta previa also increases the risks of subsequent fetal malformation and perinatal death.

Ectopic Pregnancies. Abortion is related to an increase in ectopic pregnancies in future pregnancies, which can seriously threaten the mother's future fertility and even her life. Abortionists may also "abort" a mother who has an ectopic pregnancy at the time, thereby allowing the condition to continue and placing her life in danger.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). PID is life-threatening, and can lead to subsequent infertility and an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy. Twenty-five percent of mothers who have chlamydia [the most common female venereal disease] at the time of their abortions will develop PID, and five percent of those who do not have chlamydia at the time will develop PID.

Endometriosis. Endometriosis is inflammation of the endometrium (the mucous membrane lining the uterus). Abortion increases the risk of endometriosis, especially among teenagers. There are two primary reasons why the rates of legal abortion injuries are always underreported. First, abortion centers do not legally require licensing, and most states (including California, New York, Texas and Florida, which account for 40 percent of all abortions in the United States) do not require the reporting of abortion-related injuries. This allows many abortion deaths and injuries discovered after the woman leaves the abortuary to be attributed to other causes. Therefore, any rate of legal abortion morbidity and mortality in many states must necessarily be an estimate and must therefore be suspect.

See Figure 3 In The Facts of Life. "It is a commonly held view that | | complications are inevitable." -- Abortionist | | Warren Hern [photo courtesy of Advocates for Life Ministries].

Second, less than 40% of women who require post-abortion emergency care return to the abortionist, but instead go to their own gynecologist or to an emergency room when they begin to suffer delayed abortion problems such as infections.3 Aggravating this situation is the fact that only 30% to 40% of women who have had abortions return for the abortion center's follow-up examinations (even if required), thereby letting many injuries go undetected until they cause serious problems.4

1 Warren Hern. Abortion Practice. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1990, pages 101 and 103.

2 The information in this section is extracted from two excellent summaries of current research on the physical and psychological complications arising from legal abortion. These are recommended to anyone who is doing any type of in-depth research on this topic.(1) David C. Reardon. Abortion Malpractice. Life Dynamics, PO Box 2226, Denton, Texas 76202, telephone: (817) 380-8800, FAX (817) 380-8700. (2) Thomas Strahan. Major Articles and Books Concerning the Detrimental Effects of Abortion. Rutherford Institute, PO Box 7482, Charlottesville, Virginia 22906-7482, telephone: (804) 978-3880.

3 Schonberg, "Ectopic Pregnancy and First Trimester Abortion." Ob.Gyn. 49 (1S):73S-75S, January 1977.

4 Major & Cozzarelli. "Psychosocial Predictors of Adjustment to Abortion." Journal of Social Issues 48(3):121-142 (1992).

All references to graphic images can be viewed by obtaining a copy of the The Facts of Life.

Read more on the life issues from The Facts of Life. An Authoritative Guide to Life and Family Issues by Brian Clowes, PhD