Abortion may be planned or unplanned. A planned abortion is an induced abortion, either done medically or surgically. An unplanned abortion is often an accidental miscarriage.
Women who have undergone abortions of any kind and contemplating future pregnancies might wonder if abortion can cause infertility.
Whatever may the kind of abortion be, the risk of infertility after abortion is often little to nothing.
Can Abortion Cause Infertility?
- Abortion doesn't cause infertility, but rare conditions like Asherman Syndrome or PID from procedures can lead to it.
No, abortion does not cause infertility unless you suffer from scarring or inflammation of the reproductive organs.
There are two particular possible side effects of abortion to look out for if you are worried about abortion causing infertility. One is the Asherman Syndrome. The other is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).
Asherman Syndrome occurs rarely in women who have undergone surgical abortion, especially D&C (Dilation & Curettage). It is a gynecological condition in which the walls (the front and the back) of the uterus stick together. The adhesions may be sparse or merged. The thickness of the adhesions also varies.
Asherman Syndrome can cause conceiving difficulty and also recurrent miscarriages. You can still get pregnant with Asherman Syndrome. Yet the possibility of miscarriage is higher with this syndrome in women.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) refers to the inflammation of the female reproductive organs due to infection. The infection may be a result of a womb infection incurred during surgical abortion procedures. PID can result in a high risk of infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
Both Asherman Syndrome and PID do not occur often. Even if they happen to occur, there are treatments available to cure these issues.
Risks From Abortion
- Abortion is low-risk, but potential fertility risks include bleeding, infection, inflammation, organ injury, or incomplete abortion.
Abortion is often considered a low-risk procedure when done with appropriate medical care. The risk rate of infertility caused by abortion is also negligible.
However, one has to be cautious of the following risks to fertility that may be caused due to abortion.
- Excessive Bleeding: An increased blood loss can result in the need for blood transfusion. Ill health may hinder healthy conception and pregnancy.
- Infection and Inflammation: Inflammation of the female reproductive organs (PID) caused due to bacterial or other infections raises the risk of infertility. Though inflammation of the uterus is most unlikely to occur due to abortion, it still poses a threat to potential future fertility.
- Injured Reproductive Organs: An unfortunate damage caused to female reproductive organs, such as the fallopian tube or uterus, during a surgical abortion, can impede fertility and thus future pregnancy.
- Incomplete Abortion: Medical abortions may not completely wipe out tissues or conception products in the uterus. This results in the need for D&C, which may affect future pregnancy.
Is it Hard to Get Pregnant After an Abortion?
- Getting pregnant after an abortion is usually not difficult unless affected by Asherman Syndrome or PID; consider age, partner's fertility, and any medical conditions
It is not hard to get pregnant after an abortion unless you suffer from Asherman Syndrome or PID.
However, there are certain factors to be considered while planning pregnancy after an abortion. Those include:
- Age: With an increase in age, the fertility rate will decrease, especially in women. So, if you have been facing miscarriages or abortions and your age is increasing, it is best to consult a fertility doctor about future pregnancy procedures.
- Fertility Rate of Your Partner: Abortion or not, the fertility rate of your partner also impacts your pregnancy. If your partner has been facing aging or other fertility-affecting scenarios, consult a fertility doctor.
- Medical Condition: If you have been suffering from infection, inflammation, or injury of reproductive organs, the rate of fertility may decrease and affect pregnancy.
You can also choose to undergo IVF treatment if factors are limiting your possibility of getting pregnant again.
When to Plan the Next Pregnancy After Abortion
- After an abortion, you can try for pregnancy in the first ovulation cycle, typically within two weeks, but resting for a month is advisable.
Pregnancy after abortion may be concerning for many women. The fears and anxiety that entail can also be nerve-wracking. You can take time to improve your health and give space for emotional rest before attempting another pregnancy.
Medically, since there is no risk caused due to abortion, you can try for pregnancy in the very first ovulation cycle after abortion. The ovulation period differs from person to person. But you can hope for the next ovulation period within two weeks of abortion.
Most of the time, pregnancies after abortions have been healthier, with only fewer complications in certain cases.
Yet you can choose to rest your body at least a month before planning your next pregnancy after an abortion.
Can I do IVF After an Abortion?
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is an Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) prescribed mostly for infertile couples. Abortion does not cause infertility. Therefore, there is no need for an IVF after an abortion.
However, if you feel difficulty conceiving after an abortion, you can go for an IVF. You can also choose to do IVF after miscarriages if your fertility doctor suggests you to.
Can Miscarriage Cause Infertility?
- Miscarriage doesn't cause infertility, but complications from medical or surgical abortions, like infection or injury, can affect fertility
Miscarriage does not cause infertility.
A miscarriage is an accidental abortion of the fetus. A medical abortion or medication abortion is adopted for pregnancy not over 77 days after the first day of a woman’s last period. A surgical abortion is adopted for pregnancies over 78 days after the first day of a woman’s last period.
Miscarriage does not necessarily cause infertility. Yet the negative effects of procedures for medical and surgical abortion, such as infection, inflammation, and injury in female reproductive organs, can cause infertility.
Signs Indicating Infertility After Abortion
Despite all the impossibility of infertility after abortion, if you still cannot conceive or get miscarriages quite often, look out for the following infertility warning signs
- Irregular periods
- Discomfort during sex
- Insistent pelvic pain
The above-listed signs may occur due to Asheman Syndrome or PID. At times, there will be no signs or symptoms of any kind. So, when it takes longer to conceive, quickly visit a fertility doctor.
Conclusion
Abortion is not the primary cause of infertility in any scenario. However, it is important to look out for side effects of abortion, such as excessive bleeding, inflammation of the uterus, injury, and infection of the female reproductive organs.
Whenever you feel any discomfort after the abortion procedure or when you do not get pregnant after the abortion, contact your fertility doctor to check for any fertility-related issues.
To know more about abortion and fertility association, contact a fertility doctor.
FAQs
No, abortion pills can not cause infertility when used appropriately as prescribed. Abusing abortion pills can result in infertility or other negative issues.
Yes, there is a possibility of the type of abortion affecting pregnancy. Surgical abortion may impact pregnancy negatively over medication-based abortion.
