What Are The Complications of Abortion?

Planning a pregnancy is essential for a sexually active couple because when you get pregnant out of the blue, you need a lot of time to realize the very fact of being pregnant. Unplanned pregnancies are often traumatic, and you might need to get them aborted. But abortion is not the rescue at all times.

If you want to get an abortion done, you must get it done by a professional health care provider. At polyclinics and quack clinics the chances are huge to get a septic abortion. Always go to a trustable institute for an abortion. The healthcare providers will decide based on risk versus benefit. You should always follow the advice of your healthcare provider. To get an expert opinion, you can consult a gynecologist doctor in Lahore.

Here in this article, we will talk about what is abortion and its complications. However, that does not mean that you will definitely get them if you undergo an abortion. But there can be a risk for these health conditions. So better be cautious and aware of them beforehand.

What is Abortion?

Abortion is the intentional termination of a human pregnancy. This termination of pregnancy is most often performed during the first 28 weeks of pregnancy.

 

What Are The Complications Of Abortion?

Abortions are generally considered safe, and most women will not experience any associated complications. But in some cases, abortions can seriously affect the mother and her future pregnancies.

A few complications associated with abortion are mentioned below:

Local Anesthesia

The anesthesia given to the mother during an abortion can be accidentally injected into the vessels. Such a situation can become life-threatening, leading to seizure, cardiopulmonary arrest, and, ultimately, death. However, if an expert doctor performs the procedure, the chances of this happening are very low.

General Anesthesia

General anesthesia can lead to uterine atony with severe bleeding, which could also be life-threatening in some cases.

Cervical Shock

Dilatation of the cervical canal intended for abortion can cause vasovagal syncope, which can lead to serious complications, ultimately leading to death if not treated timely. Rapid recovery usually occurs.

Postabortion Triad

Retained products of conception after abortion can lead to a postabortion triad, which includes pain, bleeding, and low-grade fevers.

Hemorrhage

Excessive bleeding during or after abortion may symbolize uterine atony, uterine perforation, cervical pregnancy, or a more advanced gestational age than expected. If you have undergone an abortion recently and have a complaint of heavy vaginal bleeding, you must consult a healthcare provider as soon as possible. Do not delay in doing that as it can lead to life-threatening consequences.

Hematometra

Hematometra is also known as post-abortion syndrome. Hematometra can be the result of retained products of conception. The endometrium is filled with blood, and the uterus is unable to contract to expel the contents, which results in a retained product. Patients can usually present with increasing lower abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. That can result in infection of the uterus and hence sepsis. Therefore keep an eye if you have abdominal pain after the abortion.

Damage To The Womb Or Cervix

Another crucial complication of abortion includes damage to the womb or cervix. This can lead to many complications in the future, like the inability to conceive, vaginal bleeding, and infertility.

Excessive Bleeding

Excessive bleeding during or after abortion can affect the mother in several ways. The mother may bleed heavily which can lead to septic shock and needs to be treated on time. Otherwise, it can result in the death of the patient.

Infection Of The Uterus Or Fallopian Tubes

Another post-abortion complication in mothers includes infection of the uterus or fallopian tubes. These infections can lead to infertility in severe cases, and the mother might not be able to conceive in the future.

Scarring Of The Inside of The Uterus

In cases where the inside of the uterus gets infected or damaged, scarring of the inside of the uterus can cause abdominal pain. Another huge complication associated with scarring inside the uterus is fibrosis which may lead to uterine fibroids and, if left untreated, cause infertility.

Sepsis Or Septic Shock

Sepsis can happen to about 1 out of 1,000 women undergoing an abortion.

Future Preterm Deliveries

Abortions weaken the cervix, which increases the risk of future pre-term deliveries or stillbirths.

The Bottom Line

All in all, abortion is considered a safe procedure. Still, like every other medical procedure, there’s a slight risk associated with abortion, which needs to be considered before performing this process. Your healthcare provider will decide about the abortion concerning your health and risk versus benefit ratio. It is always best to discuss it with them. To get an expert opinion, you can consult Hashmanis Hospital.

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