A woman may make the decision to have an abortion for a number of different reasons. Whether it is because the doctor has informed you that the baby will not develop healthily or it is because the pregnancy was unplanned, abortion may be something that will cross your mind at some point. Before making the decision to have an abortion, however, it is important to be aware of the potential side effects that are associated with having abortions.
Common Side Effects of Abortion
According to the American Pregnancy Association, there are quite a few potential side effects of abortions that may affect you immediately after you have had one. They include nausea, vomiting, spotting and bleeding, abdominal pain and cramping, and diarrhea. These side effects which occur immediately after having an abortion may last between two and four weeks. Most people will experience these side effects after having an abortion because they are very common. Note that if these side effects are severe, persistent, or last longer than four weeks, it is ideal to seek medical attention.
Serious Side Effects of Abortion
There are a number of more serious side effects of abortion, which the American Pregnancy Association says occur in about less than one out of 100 of first term abortions and about one out of 50 abortions that are performed late term. Some of these serious side effects include heavy and/or persistent bleeding, infection or sepsis, scarring of the uterine lining, damage to the cervix, damage to other organs, and perforation of the uterus. It is important to keep in mind that some of these side effects can occur after you have given child birth as well, however. In rare cases, it is possible for a woman to die due to complications during an abortion.
When to Call the Doctor About Abortion Side Effects
If you experience severe side effects after having an abortion, you should call your doctor or seek emergency medical attention. The American Pregnancy Association recommends that you do this in the event of a fever over 100.4 F, bleeding that is heavier than a period, severe pain in the back or abdomen that prevents you from standing up comfortably, foul-smelling discharge, or pregnancy symptoms.
*Please note that informing a person about the potential side effects of having an abortion does not mean that a person is against them The author of this article is pro-choice. The purpose of this article is not to discuss whether or not an abortion is moral or not. Any time that you do something which could possibly affect your health, however, it is important to be aware of the side effects that may be associated with it. For example, being aware of the fact that tanning beds cause cancer does not necessarily mean that you are against them. Many people are aware of the fact that smoking cigarettes can lead to lung cancer, but still continue to do it. Knowing what the side effects of abortion are, so that you can identify them if they affect you, is very important.
