Expert: Pat G - 3/12/2010

Question
I had a medical abortion 3 years ago.  It was done by professionals.  I had no complications thereafter.  My boyfriend does not know about it. Im now 6 weeks pregnant and Im going for a check up next week.  Can my gyna see that I had an abortion? I dont want my boyfriend to know, and he will probably been with me for my check up.

Answer
Hello, Elle,

You would be wise to have your boyfriend wait in the waiting room while the doctor checks you out. I don't know what he will find. You didn't say what kind of abortion you had. If you had a pill abortion, I am told the doctor is unlikely to find anything. If you had a surgical abortion, there could have been damage, that he will observe. Talk to your doctor about this problem. I assume this is your boyfriend's child. Your boyfriend deserves to know that you are more high risk as a result of your prior abortion. Nobody knows what the risks to a future child are from a pill abortion. But the risks from a surgical abortion are well known, and it can cause serious problems. For example, you may be more prone to miscarriage or very early birth. Very early birth can cause serious birth defects. There is a remedy, but you will need to tell your doctor that you have had an abortion, and he may need to fasten your cervix shut so you can carry your baby to term. There may also be complications at the time of birth, so make sure you are in a place where they can do a Caesarian if necessary. Tell your doctor that you don't want to share this information with your boyfriend, and ask for his counsel. You really need to TELL your doctor about this. So if you have your first appointment without your boyfriend in the room with you, you can talk freely to your doctor. Doctors aren't supposed to share medical information with other people without your permission. Ask him first whether he will keep your confidence.

If the doctor isn't willing to promise to keep your confidence, you should probably find someone else. If this is a problem, let me know.

Please take care. Feel free to write back.