No, abortion does not usually make it harder for you to conceive a baby, whether you had a termination ten years ago or last week. In fact, in most cases you will be advised to start using birth control right away if you do not want to fall pregnant again. Abortion induces a new menstrual cycle and ovulation will happen 10-14 days later so you could get pregnant again before your first period following the procedure.

Like all medical procedures, abortion comes with risks. Let’s look at how it happens and the possible complications.

What is abortion?

Abortion is a procedure that ends a pregnancy. Depending on how far along you are and where you are in the world, it can be done by taking medications (before 10 weeks) or by a short surgical procedure, after which you can usually go home. Your abortion provider may ask for a follow-up ultrasound to check all the pregnancy tissue has been removed. You may also be given a take-home pregnancy test to take 14 to 21 days later, to ensure the pregnancy has ended.

Is abortion safe?

Abortion is generally considered both safe and effective. The earlier in pregnancy an abortion happens, the safer it is. Getting advice early could help you make the best decision for you. Most providers ask for an ultrasound scan to see how far along you are. Most abortions in England, Scotland and Wales happen before 24 weeks.

Does abortion hurt?

Abortion can cause some cramping and bleeding as the uterus contracts to expel the pregnancy tissue. If you’ve taken medication to bring on an abortion, this discomfort and bleeding will usually start 2-4 hours later. It is normal to have light, moderate or heavy bleeding. Not everyone passes blood clots but if you do, they should be no bigger than a lemon. It is not normal to see an absence of blood or only see blood when you wipe 24 hours after taking the medication. Call your doctor if you have no or scant bleeding. Once the pregnancy passes, you could have light bleeding for the next fortnight. Some women see spotting until your next period.

After a surgical abortion, you may bleed like a normal menstrual period for 1-2 weeks. Some women continue to spot until their next period.

According to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, if you are bleeding so much that you soak two maxi pads per hour for two hours in a row, you should seek medical help.

What are the risks or complications associated with abortion?

Complications from an abortion are rare. The risks are different depending on the kind of abortion you had and when you had it.

From fourteen weeks of pregnancy, after surgery, you can develop a womb infection, your doctor may discover some of the pregnancy tissue remains in the womb during a follow-up ultrasound, or you can experience excessive bleeding or damage to the womb or the entrance of the womb. If any of these occur, you may be treated using antibiotics (for infections) or offered surgery.

From fourteen weeks of pregnancy, after abortion through medication, the main risks are womb infection, damage to the womb, and needing a follow-up procedure to remove parts of the pregnancy still in the womb.

Before fourteen weeks of pregnancy, after surgery, the risks are heavy bleeding, damage to or infection of the womb, or needing a follow-up treatment to remove part of a pregnancy left in the womb.

Before fourteen weeks of pregnancy, after abortion through medication, the main risks are needing a procedure to remove any parts of a pregnancy that remain, heavy bleeding, damage to the womb, or sepsis.

You may also experience nausea, headaches and diarrhoea after an abortion. These typically resolve by themselves without treatment.

Abortion does not usually make it harder to conceive. Most women who have the procedure and want to conceive again will go on to do so and have healthy pregnancies.

For more evidence-based advice on conceiving a baby, take Unii’s Preconception Journey with Dr. Shree Datta.

Does having an abortion make it harder to conceive?