Womb damage, also considered damage to the uterus, is a risk of abortion. Some signs of damage include heavy bleeding or severe abdominal pain.
It’s important to seek medical attention immediately if you believe you’re experiencing any complications after an abortion.
How Does Abortion Work?
Both medical and surgical abortion are serious medical procedures that come with major risks and side effects, including potential womb damage.
A Medical abortion consists of two different drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, to end a pregnancy. These drugs work together to prevent the embryo from implanting and cause the uterus to contract and expel the contents.
There are two methods of surgical abortion, dilation and evacuation (D&E) or dilation and curettage (D&C). However, both procedures terminate a pregnancy by removing the fetus and placenta from the mother’s womb (uterus) with different surgical instruments.
For a surgical abortion, womb damage may be more common as the nature of the procedure is much more invasive.
Risks of surgical abortion include damage to the womb or cervix, uterine perforation (accidentally putting a hole in the uterus with one of the instruments used), and scarring of the uterus.
Signs of Womb Damage After Abortion
Damage to the womb is a risk of both medical and surgical abortion. Common signs of damage to the womb that may require medical attention include:
- Heavy bleeding — soaking two or more pads an hour for two hours
- Severe abdominal or back pain
- Fever lasting more than 24 hours
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
Talk to a Medical Professional
If you’re experiencing even the slightest side effects after abortion, follow-up with your provider to ensure you’re healing properly and evaluate your uterine size, bleeding, and any signs of infection.
If you would like to know more about your pregnancy options, and the risks, talk to our compassionate team at Alexandrina Pregnancy Center today.