About 5% (1 in 20) of women having an abortion will need some follow-up medical care or need to be re-admitted to hospital for treatment. Of that 5% the most common reasons for follow-up care are:
The abortion has not been properly completed (2-3% of cases) which requires the procedure to be repeated;
Infection inside the uterus. This is usually easily treated with antibiotics (2%, or 1 in 50). It is important to carefully observe follow-up instructions; and/or
Blood clots staying in the uterus. This requires another suctioning, similar to the original abortion operation (1%).
Very rarely, there could be:
A hole or tear in the uterus which usually heals itself;
A hole or tear in the cervix which can be repaired with stitches at the time of the abortion;
Excessive bleeding due to failure of the uterus to contract. This may require a blood transfusion which is avoided unless the bleeding is life threatening;
Failure to get pregnant again — this occurs following 1% of all pregnancies, whether there is a miscarriage, abortion, or a live or stillbirth;
Very rarely, amenorrhoea (absence of periods), may follow abortion; and/or
An increased risk of miscarriage and premature birth in future pregnancies following abortion. This is thought to be more likely following 2 or more abortions, or if the abortion is carried out after 13 weeks of pregnancy.
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