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Abortion/pregnancy after abortion

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Expert: - 1/13/2010


Question
Is it harder to get pregnant after an abortion?

Answer
Hello, Annette,

About 10% of women who get a surgical abortion will never conceive another child. There are several ways abortion can cause sterility. The major one is if there is scar tissue over the openings to the Fallopian tubes. Also, abortion can cause an infection that will make a woman sterile. On the other hand, it won't stop other women from becoming pregnant again if they keep taking chances. A surgical abortion can also cause birth defects in future children, including cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism, epilepsy, blindness and deafness. It also increases a woman's chance of having a miscarriage by 400%, can cause tubal pregnancy (which requires emergency surgery), and can cause life-threatening complications during birth. We don't have information on pill abortions yet. All I can tell you is that they are very dangerous, and can kill a woman within hours or days. I hope this helps.

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Volunteer

Pat G

Expertise

I can help women with the consideration of their decision, and with resources, and I can share my own experiences as the mother of seven and grandmother of eleven. My approach is to show love and concern, and help women work through the issues, emotional, spiritual, practical. I also help women deal with boyfriend and family issues. I am not a doctor, but I have done extensive medical research, so I may be able to help with information. I am female. When you write, if you are or were pregnant, please tell me how far along you were or are, and if you have had an abortion, please tell me what kind. Thank you.

Experience

I have been working with women who are considering abortion for several years. I also work with women who have had abortions. Our family has also experienced adoption, so I can talk about that as well.

Education/Credentials
I am mostly self-taught. I also studied midwifery for awhile. I have spent years doing research on this topic. In fact, I have been doing research and working in this area since the early 1970's. I have been helping women online for a few years, under the guidance of a woman who was formally training in counseling.

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