When Should You Contact Your Doctor
Regardless of the type of abortion you had, you should contact your doctor if you dont get your period within eight weeks of the procedure. Speak to your doctor if post-abortion bleeding is especially heavy, lasts for more than two weeks, or contains blood clots larger than the size of a walnut. Finally, keep in mind that you can begin using birth control as soon as youve had an abortion.
At South Avenue Womens Services, we can discuss your birth control options with you and even insert an intrauterine device following the abortion procedure. To learn more about our abortion services, give us a call at , and we will be happy to supply you with all the information you need!
Is It Hard To Get Pregnant After An Abortion
Experts agree its no harder to get pregnant after having an abortion. Its actually a bit more of the opposite: You now have proven fertility, explains Dr. Amersi. Now we know you can get pregnant. That said, theres no reason to believe its easier to get pregnant after an abortion. Everyone is different and there are many factors to consider when assessing fertility, abortion is just not one of them.
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Your Questions About Pregnancy After Abortion Answered By An Ob
Does having an abortion curse future plans for a family? Will it affect chances of a healthy pregnancy? Heres everything you need to know about getting pregnant post-abortion.
Its been fifteen years since I had an abortion. Since then, I earned my college degree as an All-American Track & Field athlete. Ive traveled to countless new cities, one of which I now call home. Ive gained invaluable professional experience to further my career. And I married someone who I look forward to parenting with.
I made a decision Ill never regret. I chose my body, my health, my life. And though I wasnt ready to be a mother as a teenager, I now am. According to my doctor, Im in prime condition to conceive again. But are all people who have abortions in the same boat as me? Am I the norm when it comes to being able to get pregnant after an abortion, or am I an anomaly?
The good news is we no longer have to question whether or not abortion methods recommended by healthcare professionals are safe. The four forms of abortion are considered safe and effective procedures, according to evidence-based, non-partisan research produced by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. But to learn more about getting pregnant again after having an abortion, I spoke with OB-GYN Shamsah Amersi, M.D.
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Emotions After Abortion: What Can Help
Having an abortion can bring up all sorts of emotions from relief to anger and sadness and everything in between sometimes all at once.
Dr. Flanagan offers some reassurance about those boomerang feelings that might crop up. Any emotion you experience is normal, she says. And at different times throughout the process, you may experience widely different emotions. Again, thats normal.
Some women and people who menstruate benefit from talking to someone. Getting support is a personal choice, but its likely better for your emotional and physical recovery to have the support of someone you trust. This can come from family, friends, therapy, or your health care provider, says Dr. Flanagan. You could also look online for forums and support groups where people whove had an abortion can share their experiences in a safe space.
What Is The Outlook For Fertility Following Abortion
According to ACOG, having an abortion doesnt generally affect your ability to get pregnant in the future. It also does not increase the risks for pregnancy complications if you do choose to get pregnant again.
Many doctors recommend using some type of birth control immediately after abortion because its possible a woman can get pregnant again when she starts ovulating.
Doctors will also usually recommend a woman refrain from sexual intercourse for a certain time period after an abortion to allow the body time to heal.
If you do have difficulty getting pregnant after an abortion, its important to consider some of the other factors that could potentially affect your fertility, since a past abortion isnt likely to cause problems conceiving. These factors can also affect fertility:
If you are experiencing problems getting pregnant, talk to your gynecologist. They can advise you on lifestyle steps that may help, as well as recommend a fertility specialist who can help you identify potential underlying causes and possible treatment options.
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Will The Abortion Pill Affect Future Pregnancy
A significant number of women choose to terminate their pregnancies by using the abortion pill method. This method is generally reserved for patients who are 10 weeks pregnant or less. Many people want to know if there is a second trimester abortion pill or a late term abortion pill that can be used to terminate a pregnancy. The answer is yes. One must seek out competent and highly qualified Physicians who are able to perform these procedures in a highly safe and proficient manner using late term abortion medication.
The use of Mifepristone is not the normal way people think of the Abortion Pill preventing pregnancy. They worry about whether using the Abortion Pill to terminate their pregnancy will prevent them from becoming pregnant in the future. The answer is generally no. This will bel discussed in more detail shortly.
Will abortion pills affect my fertility?
Women frequently ask if the use of the abortion pill will affect the chances of conception in the future. Abortion pills have minimal side effects and complications. Over 3 million women in the US have undergone their termination of pregnancy using the abortion pill process. Performing the Abortion Pill Procedure under medical supervision and following the take home instructions leads to minimal side effects and complications.
Infertility problems after surgical or medical abortions may occur under the following circumstances.
Do abortion pills affect future pregnancies?
Where Is Emergency Contraception Free?
What Are The Risks Of A Previous Abortion To Pregnancy
You may have a slightly higher risk of premature birth.
If you develop a womb infection after an abortion this can spread to your fallopian tubes and ovaries. This is known as pelvic inflammatory disease . PID can make it more difficult to get pregnant and increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Most infections are treated before they reach this stage and you should be given antibiotics before an abortion to reduce the risk of infection.
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Can Having An Abortion Affect My Fertility
Having an abortion will not usually affect your chances of becoming pregnant and having normal pregnancies in the future.
But there’s a very small risk to your fertility and future pregnancies if you develop a womb infection during the procedure that’s not treated promptly.
The infection could spread to your fallopian tubes and ovaries, known as pelvic inflammatory disease .
PID can increase your risk of infertility or an ectopic pregnancy, where an egg implants itself outside the womb.
But most infections are treated before they reach this stage, and you’ll often be given antibiotics before an abortion to reduce the risk of infection.
Get medical advice as soon as possible if you experience any signs of infection after an abortion, such as:
Are There Any Other Risks Associated With Having An Abortion
Abortion is a safe procedure and, as we mentioned earlier, complications are rare. According to ACOG, having an abortion will not increase your risk of breast cancer or depression “despite what many state laws mandate healthcare providers to tell their patients,” adds Dr. Conti.While you may have heard about a link between abortion and breast cancer or mental health issues in the past, that same 2018 panel from NASEM we talked about in the fertility section examined all of the available research and affirmed ACOG’s position.
However, like with any medical procedure you might undergo, there are possible risks. We already touched on infection, but in very rare cases, there may be what’s called an incomplete abortion this means the pregnancy wasn’t completely removed from the uterus. Incomplete abortions are more common after medication abortion than they are procedural abortion, and increase with gestational age. In the event of an incomplete abortion, you may need a follow-up procedure or more medication. “Only 1% of surgical procedures and about 5% of medication abortions will need additional follow-up to remove remaining tissue inside the uterus,” says Dr. Conti. “This rate also increases slightly with an incomplete miscarriage because the old pregnancy tissue becomes stickier and more difficult to expel the longer it remains inside.”
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How Soon Can I Conceive After An Abortion
Are you thinking, When can I conceive after an abortion? Well tell you. As soon as ovulation resumes after the abortion, you can conceive again. If you havent used birth control measures, in rare cases, you can get pregnant within 7-10 days if you are ovulating. But, this is not recommended as the body needs to heal itself.
Doctors recommend waiting for a minimum of 3 months before trying for a baby again. This is to ensure the safety and well-being of both the mother and the baby.
If you had a surgical abortion or a D& C procedure, your gynaecologist will advise you to wait for at least a month to allow the uterus to heal. If your abortion was in the second or third trimester, the doctor may recommend waiting longer, so that youre well-rested. You may also be prescribed folic acid supplements to reduce the chances of neural tube defects in the next pregnancy. If there were no medical complications, then pregnancy after an abortion is safe.
Can Any Of These Potential Complications Affect Future Fertility
Of the potential abortion complications listed above, Asherman syndrome and infection are the only ones that can, again, rarely affect your fertility. Scarring from Asherman syndrome can make it harder to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term. If this is the case, your doctor can remove the scar tissue and insert a balloon that allows your uterus to heal. Once the balloon is removed and youre healed, you should be able to conceive.
Additionally, waiting too long to treat an infection in your pelvis or reproductive organs can increase your risk of infertility or ectopic pregnancy. Rarely, however, do infections progress this far before they are detected and treated.
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Are There Any Risks Associated With Getting Pregnant After An Abortion
The risks associated with getting pregnant after an abortion are minimal and can depend on the type of abortion you had.
For medical abortions , the risk of having complications with future pregnancies is very low. This means that your chances of experiencing complications like giving birth prematurely, giving birth to a low-weight baby, having an ectopic pregnancy, and losing your pregnancy are all low.
For surgical abortions , the risk of future pregnancy complications is slightly higher. One study found that women who underwent a dilation and evacuation procedure , may be at an increased risk of having a premature delivery with a low birth weight baby.
To avoid complications associated with surgical abortions, doctors often recommend that patients have an abortion as early in their pregnancy as possible so that they can have a medical abortion.
Can An Abortion Prevent Future Pregnancies
Women procure abortions for a number of reasons which may be personal or medical. The procedure involves stopping a pregnancy from going on to full term. However, a woman who chooses an abortion may still want to have children later in life, when she is ready for it. If you have had an abortion and are considering getting pregnant, you could be having one question in your mind: Can an abortion affect future pregnancies? Let us find out the answer.
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Does Having An Abortion Affect Your Ability To Have Children In The Future
By | Aug. 2, 2010, 4:06 p.m.
Category:
Im about 6 weeks pregnant and I have had an abortion before I was just wondering will that effect my pregnancy if I do decide to keep the baby?
No. A safe, uncomplicated, legal abortion does not affect a womans ability to have children in the future. So, unless there are significant complications, such as a damaged cervix, a womans fertility is not affected by abortion. Contrary to what you may have heard, abortion does not
- make miscarriage more likely
- make ectopic or tubal pregnancy more likely
- increase the risk of birth defects, premature birth, or low birth weight in future pregnancies
Abortion is a very safe procedure. Its about twice as safe as having tonsils removed, and is much safer than giving birth.
However, the need for abortion can be prevented by proper use of birth control. Contact your local Planned Parenthood health center for information about birth control and abortion services.
Tags:Abortion, pregnancy, pregnancy options
Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. is a registered 501 nonprofit under EIN 13-1644147. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable under the law.
Tips For Successful Pregnancy After Abortion
1. Consult Your Physician
If you are still worried and wondering in your mind, Can an abortion prevent future pregnancies? your healthcare provider can help you understand the risks associated with having an abortion and give you tips that will help you to conceive in the future.
Your doctor can conduct physical examinations to make sure that your uterus and cervix have not suffered any damage, and evaluate what impact any previous infection may have on your ability to conceive.
2. Healthy Lifestyle
Maintaining a healthy diet is critical to the proper functioning of your reproductive organs. Eating a well-balanced diet with regular servings of green leafy vegetables and fruits will boost the efficient functioning of your body. Keep off unhealthy habits such as smoking, drinking and excessive intake of caffeine.
3. Give Yourself Time to Recover
Allowing your body to recover after an abortion or a trauma increases your chances of conceiving again. The recommended waiting period is usually six to eight weeks within which you should take prescribed vitamins and mineral supplements.
4. Have Sex Frequently
Engaging in regular sexual intercourse is a good way to increase your chances of conception. However, you and your partner should take a three to six day rest period to allow your partners sperm count to increase after a period of rigorous sexual activity.
5. Take Advantage of Your Ovulation Time
6. Load Up on Folic Acid
7. See a Specialist
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How Soon After An Abortion Can You Get Pregnant
Ovulation can occur as soon as 2 weeks after an abortion. This means a person may become pregnant again before their next period. However, menstrual cycles vary in length, and people with shorter cycles may ovulate sooner.
Another factor that influences the timing of ovulation is the duration of the pregnancy before the abortion. If an abortion takes place later in the pregnancy, the person may not ovulate for several weeks afterward. This can occur when pregnancy hormones linger in the body.
A person who wants to avoid pregnancy soon after an abortion may want to use contraception. According to the ACOG, a person can use any contraceptive method, including an intrauterine device, immediately after pregnancy ends.
Anyone who wonders whether they have become pregnant soon after an abortion should take a pregnancy test. If the result is positive, they should see a doctor, who can determine whether there is a new pregnancy or whether leftover pregnancy hormones are present.
People can become pregnant within 2 weeks of an abortion. For those who are ready to get pregnant again, there is generally no medical reason to delay trying to conceive unless a doctor advises otherwise.
A person does not need to take extra steps to become pregnant after an abortion.
However, some doctors recommend waiting until the first menstrual period has ended. This will make it easier to estimate the delivery date of the next pregnancy.
What Is A Medical Abortion
The abortion pill, often referred to as a medical abortion is actually a series of two different pills.
The first pill, Mifepristone, blocks the hormones necessary for the pregnancy to continue. The second pill, Misoprostol, stimulates the uterus to cramp and bleed so that the embryo is forced to leave the womans body .
Mifepristone Oral is an abortion pill prescribed during the first seven to ten weeks of pregnancy. It is a drug that blocks the effects of progesterone, one of the hormones necessary for the uterus ability to support a pregnancy.
To complete the process, Misoprostol is a medication that causes the uterus to contract and expel the embryo, embryonic sac, and lining of the uterus, ultimately removing the developing fetus. This process usually takes 24-48 hours and is often accompanied by heavy bleeding and strong uterine cramping.
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Will I Be Able To Have Children Later On
Many women are able to get pregnant immediately afterwards, so you should start using contraception right away if you dont want this to happen. Your provider should advise you about this at the time you have the abortion. There are some options of contraception that can be put in place at the time of your appointment depending on the type of abortion.
Regardless, with any medical procedure large or small, there are always some possible risks and complications. You should be aware of any possible outcome of your procedure.
