Past Abortions
Past abortions do not usually result in infertility
Many scientific studies have examined the effects of past abortions on fertility levels. It is a very important subject to assess as the majority of women who undergo abortions are young, and will probably want to conceive later on in life.
Provided that no infections were contracted as a result of the abortion, it is unlikely that your fertility levels will be affected, and you should still be able to use DuoFertility. However, a study by Dr Hani K. Atrash indicates that there may be a slightly higher risk of premature birth and low birthweight following an abortion by dilatation and evacuation. It is also worth noting that an abortion may result in scarring of the endometrium? which could lead to failure of implantation?, although scarring can also be due to a range of other factors and is not specifically caused by abortions.
It is very important that you tell your doctor if you have had an abortion in the past, even if you would rather not. You may decide to do this without your partner being present. Your doctor will not be judgemental, but they need to know the most relevant facts relating to your reproductive tract, and that includes any surgery that you may have had.
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Scientific references (Click here)
The effect of pregnancy termination on future reproduction.
Baillieres Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 1990 Jun;4(2):391-405.
The effect of pregnancy termination on future reproduction.
A variety of conditions have been anecdotally ascribed to induced abortion, including subsequent reproductive complications. Since most women obtaining induced abortions are at the beginning of their reproductive life, the effect of induced abortion on subsequent reproduction becomes a very significant one. Our review of the literature confirms findings reported previously. First, except in the case where an infection complicates induced abortion, there is no evidence of an association between induced abortion and secondary infertility or ectopic pregnancy. Second, the risk of midtrimester abortion, premature delivery and low birthweight in women whose first pregnancy is terminated by vacuum aspiration is not higher than that in women in their first pregnancy or women in their second pregnancy whose first pregnancy was carried to term. However, the risk of having a premature delivery or a low birthweight baby tends to be higher (but not significantly) among women whose first pregnancy is terminated by induced abortion when compared with women in their second pregnancy than when compared with women in their first pregnancy. This suggests that an induced abortion does not protect a women against the known risk of low birthweight for first-born offspring. Finally, women whose pregnancy is terminated by dilatation and evacuation may have an increased risk of subsequent premature delivery and a low birthweight baby. Very little has been published and no conclusions can be made regarding the effects of instillation procedures and repeat abortions on future reproduction. In conclusion, except for the association between pregnancies following dilatation and evacuation procedures and premature delivery and low birthweight, no significantly increased risk of adverse reproductive health has been observed following induced abortion. PIP: This is an updated review of the literature on the risks of impaired future fertility due to induced abortion, emphasizing large studies on pregnancy termination by vacuum aspiration in the 1st trimester. Anecdotal reports have implicated abortion in causing sterility, menstrual disorders, psychiatric sequelae, and increased premature births, tubal pregnancies, stillbirths, birth defects and spontaneous abortions. Except when an infection complicates induced abortion, there is no evidence of an association of abortion with secondary infertility or ectopic pregnancy. The risk of midtrimester spontaneous abortion, premature delivery and low birthweight is not higher in the subsequent 1st term pregnancy. Studies using women in their 2nd pregnancy as controls, rather than controls in their 1st term pregnancy, however, report a slight but not significant increase in risk of prematurity or low birthweight. The 1st pregnancy is known to have an inherent higher risk of low birthweight. Induced abortion by dilatation and evacuation may confer a higher risk of subsequent premature delivery and low birthweight. Very little information is available comparing the various types of instillation abortions and numbers of repeat abortions on future reproduction. No added risks have been found for many conditions such as placenta? previa, mental illness, pre-eclampsia, disproportion, hemorrhage, trauma, operative delivery or fetal distress. Anemia of pregnancy has been found to occur less often after abortion while urinary tract infection s are significantly increased.[/collapse]