Can a Previous Abortion Affect Pregnancy?

Today, a reader asked me a sensitive question: “can a previous abortion affect my pregnancy?”
Lisa (not her real name) had an abortion when she was 17. It’s a familiar story – she was young, scared, and not ready to be a parent. Lisa is now 28 and she and her husband are trying for a baby. They’ve been trying for four months and have not yet had that longed-for positive test result. A friend of Lisa’s told her that previous abortion affect pregnancy. She began to worry that she would never conceive.

We’re not in the 19th century anymore. And I’m not talking about illegal backstreet abortions with only gin for anesthetic!

I’m pleased to tell you that abortions (as long as they were done correctly), will not affect your chances of conceiving. Think of it this way: the fact that you’ve conceived before confirms that your fallopian tubes are open and you ovulate. That’s good news!

What do the Experts Say?

Specialist doctors and medical researchers confirm that previous abortions have little or no effect being able to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy in the future. Most women who have had previous abortions are able to conceive naturally and carry a baby to full term when they are ready. However, there are rare occasions when there may be a complication:

The abortion process occasionally causes scarring to your uterus or cervix.
If you have had multiple abortions, the forced dilation sometimes causes your cervix to weaken. This can sometimes cause your cervix to become “incompetent” and dilate prematurely, increasing the risk of miscarriage. A procedure called a “cerclage” (a stitch which keeps the cervix closed) can help prevent this.

If You’re in this Situation, Don’t Let it Eat You Up

Lisa spent months blaming herself for not getting pregnant. She truly believed that her teenaged abortion had ruined her chances of ever becoming a mother. This is not the case. If you are worried about your chances of getting pregnant or complications during pregnancy, make an appointment with a gynecologist or obstetrician to discuss your concerns. He or she may suggest you have a hysteroscopy. This procedure involves putting a tiny camera is put through the cervix and into your uterine cavity. The specialist is able to check for scar tissue or damage to your reproductive system and can often make repairs if necessary.

Do you have a question about abortion and pregnancy?

There’s no such thing as a silly question. If you’re wondering something about previous abortions and pregnancy, we’re more than happy to answer your question. Either leave a comment in our comments section or send a private message through our contact us page. We’d love to hear from you!