Surgical Abortion
· Pain: 97% of women having surgical abortions reported pain during the procedure. More than one-third described it as "intense," "severe" or "very severe."
· Complications: Common physical complications include severe bleeding, serious infection, disturbance of your period, inflammation of your reproductive organs, and tears in your cervix, uterus, bladder, or bowel.
· Future Risks: Women having abortions have an increased risk of ectopic (tubal) pregnancy and a more than doubled risk of future infertility.
· Breast Cancer: A 1994 study of over 1,800 women found that women who underwent abortions faced a 50 percent higher risk of contracting breast cancer by age 45.
· Death: Over 350 women have died from legal abortion since 1973.
Chemical Abortion
· RU486: The abortion pill comes with its own risks. At least three women have died in North America since its U.S. approval in 2000, while several others have come close. The process stretches over several days and multiple visits to an abortion facility and can be quite an ordeal, even under ideal circumstances. Harsh side effects such as pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are standard parts of the chemical abortion process, as is extremely heavy bleeding. These side effects can mask symptoms of other potentially deadly medical problems like septic infection or ectopic pregnancy.
Psychological Repercussions
· Mental Health: Researchers have identified a pattern of problems known as Post-Abortion Syndrome (PAS) that begins with denial and surfaces in full force 5 to 10 years after abortion. Women suffering from PAS may fall into alcohol and drug abuse, relationship disorders, sexual dysfunction, repeated abortions, communications difficulties, damaged self-esteem, and even suicide attempts.