Question i had a D and c abortion. its been 7 days, still have light bleeding no cramping just a little lower back pains... off and on. should i be worried.... i went to the E R four days after and they did a sonogram to see if i have retained tissue or damage in the uterus, she said everything looks fine... the cervix is closed and the uterus is shrinking back to its normal size.... so should i still be worried and can me just having one abortion affect me from having children in the future
AnswerHello, stacy,
Any time you do something as violent as abortion to your body, you should be concerned. It sounds like perhaps the immediate risks have been passed successfully, although that's hard to say.
There is still the possibility you could have an infection, and occasionally a woman will get a sexually transmitted disease from an abortion. Abortionists don't sterilize their instruments properly, and often re-use disposable instruments. And there is also the possibility that you will develop other symptoms in the near future. The thing to do is to watch for any abnormality and seek attention if you have any signs. The fact that you went to the ER tends to suggest your body is telling you something, or that your common sense is.
There are other, long-term dangers from abortion. If this was your first pregnancy, you are at much greater risk of developing breast cancer, which usually hits in a woman's 40's. As for having children in the future, statistics show that approximately 10% of women who have one abortion never conceive again. On top of this, there are certain known risks. Surgical abortion involves forcing open the cervix, and this causes micro-tears. This makes the cervix weak and unable to hold the weight of a full term baby. This can result in miscarriage or a very early birth. Very early birth is a major cause of cerebral palsy and other mental damage. The doctor can fasten the cerfix shut until the time of birth, to prevent this, but he has to know you had a surgical abortion. In addition, it can cause problems at the time of birth. It can cause the placenta to attach near the opening to the cervix. This is known as placenta previa. This can rip loose during birth and cause hemorrhage. The remedy is Caesarian section. In addition, a previous abortion can cause prolonged labor, which also may result in a Caesarian. While most of the time, a woman who has had one abortion will have a normal pregnancy and birth, it is important to be vigilant.
I hope things go well for you in the future.
