Know the Risks of the Abortion Pill
Major Physical Risk Factors
- The dominant side effect is uterine bleeding, comparable to a heavy menstrual period or even a miscarriage. It can become excessive and prolonged, lasting for weeks and requiring blood transfusions.
- There is a ten percent chance that the procedure will be incomplete and a surgical abortion will be necessary.
- A new study from Finland reports that 20% of the women using the abortion pill suffer at least one significant complication. Nearly 4% reported two or more complications or “adverse events.” Researchers found that 15.6% of those undergoing chemical abortions haemorrhaged, 1.7% encountered infection, and 6.7% had incomplete abortions. The rate of those having incomplete abortions rose as the length of gestation increased.(1)
- Methotrexate exposure during pregnancy can lead to extreme birth defects should the baby survive the abortion. Limb defects and Mobius Syndrome (definition) have been associated with misoprostol use.(2)
(1) Maarit Niinimi, et al. Immediate Complications After Medical Compared with Surgical Termination of Pregnancy, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oct. 2009
(2) M.E. Lloyd, et al. The effects of methotrexate on pregnancy, fertility and lactation, Oxford Journals Volume 92, #10, 1999
Abortion and Future Pregnancies
A prior first trimester induced abortion has been proven to be a significant medical risk factor associated with preterm birth. Preterm birth presents a higher risk for birth defects which increases the more premature the birth is.(1) According to pro-choice National Post columnist Barbara Kay, women seeking abortions are not learning enough about the medical risks associated with these procedures. She writes, “Recent findings in their research remind us of...the right of women seeking safe abortions to informed consent.”(2)
Read Kay’s full article, The abortion issue were ignoring:
http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/columnists/story.html?id=c8a5da34-3460-4baa-8479-8a43deb2f51a
(1) Pierre-Yves Ancel, et. al. History of induced abortion as a risk factor for preterm birth in European countries: results of the EUROPOP Survey.
Other Side Effects
- nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramping or pain, vomiting, hot flashes, headaches, dizziness, oral ulcers, fever and chills
Psychological Risk Factors
Case studies and scientific research have also demonstrated a significant number of psychological disorders connected with abortions:
- Post-abortive women are 6-7 times more likely to commit suicide in the following year than other women.
- Up to 60% of post-abortive women admit to suicidal thoughts, and women who have undergone abortions are 65% more likely than delivering women to be at risk of long-term clinical depression after taking into account the factors of age, race, education, marital status, income, and their psychiatric history.
- 65% of post-abortive women report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
- 60% of women who had an abortion said they felt like “part of me died” afterwards.
- Sleep disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, and disorders that did not pre-exist the abortion are commonly reported by women after their abortions.
- Women who have had an abortion are 39% more likely to suffer from an eating disorder, and post-abortive women have a five-fold higher risk of substance abuse and alcoholism than women who give birth.
- Abortions have been shown to correspond with higher divorce rates and chronic relationship problems.
- Women who have more than one abortion are more likely to become single parents and require social assistance.
- 30-50% of post-abortive women suffer from sexual dysfunctions including promiscuity, loss of pleasure from intercourse, increased pain, and aversion to sex and/or men.
For a more complete listing of the risks associated with abortions, please visit www.afterabortion.org.
