Ask Our Expert - Future Pregnancy Complications Due to Multiple Abortions

November 08, 2009

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Specializing in pregnancy and birth.


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Ask Dr. Greenfield Future Pregnancy Complications Due to Multiple Abortions

QUESTION


Dear Dr. Greenfield, Can having multiple abortions (D&C) cause complications in future pregnancies? — Just Being Careful in Long Beach, California

ANSWER	October 11, 2001


Dear Just Being Careful, There is pretty good evidence that having one or two first trimester abortions does not cause complications in future pregnancies. There aren't many research studies on the subsequent pregnancies of women who've had more than two, since that isn't a common occurrence in the United States where birth control is easily available. There are countries where abortion is more available than other methods of birth control, and women may have many abortions, but I don't know of research done on those women's subsequent pregnancies. There is some question that more than two first trimester abortions, or any number of second trimester procedures may pose some risk of preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies. All we really have to go on currently is that one or two first trimester D&C (dilation and currettage) abortions don't seem to carry medical risk to future pregnancies. I hope that this answers your question. — by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D.

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