In this recurring guest column, Kate White, M.D., of Boston Medical Center, answers your questions on all things gynecology. As the author of the Mayo Clinic Press book Your Sexual Health, she’s ready to dole out wisdom on sex, periods, menopause and more. Submit a question here.
Q: I’m considering an abortion, but I’m worried about the medical risks. Just how safe are abortions?
A: Based on how abortion is depicted on TV and in movies, you’d think you’re taking your life in your hands by having one. But what you see on screen is an unrealistic portrayal. In truth, most people are completely fine physically and emotionally after an abortion. The rate of complications with a first-trimester abortion, most of them not serious, is less than 1%. Even the most common abortion complication — needing an additional procedure — happens to fewer than 3% of people, with no lasting damage to your body.
The most common emotion people have after an abortion is relief, and you’re back to work or school in three days — but that doesn’t make for much of a dramatic story.
You might be surprised to learn that the riskiest thing a pregnant person can do is to stay pregnant. But carrying a baby to term carries far greater risks to your health than an abortion does. In fact, carrying a pregnancy to term is 14 times more likely to kill you than having an abortion — a risk that’s higher for Black and Latinx people than white. And if you have serious medical problems that make a pregnancy life-threatening, abortion is even safer.
Of course, safety alone is generally not the reason to choose an abortion. If you’re getting good prenatal care, you’re likely to come through pregnancy unscathed. But if you find yourself in the position of needing an abortion, know that you’re not doing something dangerous for your body by terminating the pregnancy.
Abortion is also a safe option if you want to get pregnant in the future. I have people in my office struggling to get pregnant, wondering if the abortion they had when they were younger is the reason why they can’t get pregnant now. Even some patients who are having a miscarriage wonder if their long-ago abortion is the reason.
I promise you, having an uncomplicated abortion will not harm your ability to get pregnant in the future. It won’t scar your uterus or damage your cervix. In fact, you can get pregnant in as little as 8 to 10 days after a first-trimester abortion. That’s how quickly your fertility returns.
Why do I say “uncomplicated”? It’s natural to fear complications with any medical procedure. But the chance of having a problem during an abortion that prevents you from having future pregnancies is less than the chance of being struck by lightning. It’s also much less than the chance of losing your uterus (hysterectomy) from a pregnancy complication.
Learn more about the legal status of abortion here.
A version of this text appears in Dr. Kate’s book Your Sexual Health.
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