What Are the Risks of Abortion?

May 29, 2023

If you’re considering an abortion, it’s essential to understand the risks to safeguard your health. While there are immediate physical risks of abortion, there are also long-term mental health risks.

It can be challenging to sort through all the information online, which is why we’ve compiled the top risks you need to know if you’re considering an abortion. 

Read on to learn more, or contact Heart to Heart for a free, confidential appointment to discuss your pregnancy options. 

Physical Risks of Abortion

The risks involved with abortion depend on the type of abortion procedure. There are two main types: medical and surgical. 

A medical abortion (also known as the “abortion pill”) involves taking two pills, mifepristone and misoprostol. These two drugs work together to end the baby’s life and then expel the baby through the vagina.

The main physical risks associated with a medical abortion include:

• Losing too much blood (hemorrhaging) 
• Infection (which could become life-threatening)
• Incomplete abortion (which happens when parts of the pregnancy remain in your uterus)

A surgical abortion involves dilating the cervix so that a medical instrument can enter the uterus to remove the pregnancy. 

The main physical risks of a surgical abortion include the following: 

• Uterine perforation 
• Cervical damage
• Infection

Mental Health Risks of Abortion

Along with physical dangers, there are also mental health risks to abortion. 

In recent years, studies have found a possible link between adverse mental health outcomes and abortion. In a report by American Psychological Association’s (APA) Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion (TFMHA), “It is clear that some women do experience sadness, grief, and feelings of loss following termination of a baby’s life, and some experience clinically significant disorders, including depression and anxiety.” 

Another study found that many women who underwent an abortion had “deep feelings of loss, existential concerns, and declines in quality of life. More specifically, common negatives included feelings about termination of a life, regret, shame, guilt, depression, anxiety, compromised self-appraisals, and self-destructive behaviors.” 

Next Steps

Thinking about the next steps for your unplanned pregnancy can feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. At Heart to Heart, we offer free pregnancy resources that can help you make an informed decision. Contact us today to talk to one of our caring team members. Appointments are free and confidential.