Conception After An Abortion — Is It Possible?
There is a lot to understand about the functioning of a woman’s body. Several changes constantly occur in hormonal levels, fertility, ovulation, and menstruation. When you conceive, your body starts producing hormones to support the implantation of the embryo. The hormones estrogen and progesterone are released in your body, which thickens the endometrium layer. This process occurs to provide the nutrients necessary for the fertilized egg to grow and eventually develop into a baby (1). However, if it was an unexpected pregnancy or you have health complications that might risk your life, you may choose to abort the growing baby.
When a woman chooses to abort a baby, there are several things she needs to consider. It’s natural for you to wonder if the abortion may affect your chances of conceiving in the future. Typically, the answer is no. Abortion does not affect your chances of pregnancy in the future. However, there are things to keep in mind. Scroll below to know more about conception after abortion and the complications, risks, and possibilities of having a healthy pregnancy after an abortion.
Can You Get Pregnant After An Abortion?
The simple answer is yes, you can. Having an abortion early in pregnancy reduces complications, but the overall risk of the abortion seems to be low. During the first trimester, a woman may abort medically by taking oral pills. A combination of prescribed medicines may successfully allow you to undergo an abortion. It has a success rate of 99% (2). Medical abortion (through pills) is relatively safe and does not risk future pregnancy complications.
However, if you opt for surgical abortion, the risks might be slightly higher. A surgical abortion is called dilation, and curettage is a procedure that involves removing the fetus with a tool called curettage using suction. In some cases, this procedure might cause scarring of the uterine wall, making it difficult for future pregnancies. Doctors call this uterine wall scarring Asherman’s Syndrome. It makes it difficult for future pregnancies and may even lead to miscarriages in the future (3).
How Soon Can You Get Pregnant After An Abortion?
You might ovulate as soon as two weeks after an abortion, or it might take longer. How far along you were in your pregnancy before you got an abortion plays a role in how soon you can get pregnant after an abortion. The further you are in your pregnancy, the longer it takes for you to ovulate after the termination of your pregnancy (4).
If you wish to avoid getting pregnant soon after an abortion, you may adhere to contraceptives. There are chances that you may also test positive for pregnancy from the remaining hormones of your previous pregnancy. It might not be a new pregnancy. Therefore, if you’re unsure about your pregnancy, it’s best to see a doctor.
Can Abortions Affect My Fertility?
Having an abortion does not directly affect your fertility, and you can have future pregnancies without much complications after termination. However, there are chances that your fertility is at risk when you contract a womb infection if the procedure is not treated correctly.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) may occur when the infection spreads to your fallopian tubes and ovaries. PID may increase your chances of infertility if not treated at an early stage. You may also experience an ectopic pregnancy where the egg implantation occurs outside the womb. Therefore, get medical advice as soon as you experience symptoms like severe pain, high temperature, or smelly discharge after you’ve had an abortion (5).
Most often, you will be given antibiotics before an abortion to reduce the risk of infection. Therefore, watch out and keep yourself well-informed. It’s essential to seek the help of a medical professional you can trust. We hope we cleared some of your doubts regarding pregnancy after abortions. Share this article with your friends and family to clarify their doubts!
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