We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGEEK

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

What are the Most Common Abortion Problems?

A. Pasbjerg
By
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

While abortion is generally considered a fairly safe procedure when performed by a trained medical professional, there are some common abortion problems that women may experience after the procedure. These problems can vary depending on the type of abortion performed and at what point in the pregnancy it is done. Medical abortions, where drugs are used to terminate the pregnancy, typically cause moderate to heavy bleeding and cramping, and many women also have flu-like symptoms such as headache, nausea, and chills. Women who have surgical abortions can also expect to have bleeding for a period of time, plus issues like cramping, nausea, and sometimes feelings of faintness after the procedure. The later the abortion is performed during the pregnancy, the higher the likelihood of more severe complications like uterine perforation, infection, or incomplete removal of tissue from the uterus.

Ending a pregnancy through the use of drugs like mifepristone, methotrexate, and misoprostol can lead to certain common abortion problems. While all women who have this procedure will have a certain amount of bleeding, it may be heavier for some and accompanied by painful cramping. It is also fairly common, within the first day or so after the drugs are administered, for the patient to feel symptoms similar to having a cold or the flu; headache, gastrointestinal issues like vomiting or diarrhea, and fever with accompanying aches, chills, and fatigue can all occur.

Many women experience some mild to moderate abortion problems from surgical procedures as well. As with medical abortions, many women will have fairly heavy bleeding and uterine cramping for some time, from days to weeks. It is not uncommon for women to feel sweaty, faint, or dizzy shortly after the procedure is done. They may also experience feelings of nausea for a period afterward.

The potential for serious abortion problems increases with the length of the pregnancy at the time of the procedure. There is a greater chance that the cervix or uterus will be damaged while the abortion is being done. Women are more likely to hemorrhage or get blood clots, and they are also more susceptible to infection after they have the procedure done. Another problem that happens more frequently with a late abortion is that some of the products of conception are left behind in the uterus, which may then require the woman to have a second procedure to completely clear them.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
A. Pasbjerg
By A. Pasbjerg
Andrea Pasbjerg, a WiseGEEK contributor, holds an MBA from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Her business background helps her to create content that is both informative and practical, providing readers with valuable insights and strategies for success in the business world.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Discussion Comments

By Ruggercat68 — On Mar 08, 2014

I knew a girl in college who tried to trap her boyfriend into marriage by deliberately getting pregnant. It didn't work. He realized she was willing to do anything to manipulate their relationship, so he paid for her first abortion. When it happened again, she borrowed the money from a sympathetic relative. Thankfully, the boyfriend finally ended the relationship after several more months.

I was concerned for this girl, since she was obviously troubled and obsessed with the idea of marriage. I found out she married twice after graduating from college, and that she was now the mother of two young, healthy girls. The physical effects of those two abortions did not permanently affect her ability to carry a child full-term.

By Phaedrus — On Mar 07, 2014

I agree with the article as far as medical problems with abortion are concerned, but I'd like to see more about emotional problems as well. I've known several women who have had abortions, and they told me that the procedure itself was painful, but they recovered fairly quickly. Their real problems didn't start until a few weeks later, when other people found out about their decisions. One woman told me many of her family members refused to talk to her for a long time, and another said she had to take anti-anxiety medications in order to avoid panic attacks. I'm still pro-choice about abortion, but I think all aspects of the procedure need to brought out into the open.

A. Pasbjerg

A. Pasbjerg

Andrea Pasbjerg, a WiseGEEK contributor, holds an MBA from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Her business background helps her to create content that is both informative and practical, providing readers with valuable insights and strategies for success in the business world.
WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.