Long-term Health Risks

Breast Cancer

Hormonal factors, including estrogen, are well known to be connected to an increase in breast cancer risk. Cancer advocacy groups such as the Canadian Cancer Society also acknowledge this by mentioning several risk factors associated with increased estrogen exposure. Among the "Causes of breast cancer" listed on their website (www.cancer.ca) are: no childbirth, or first childbirth after age 30, early onset of menstruation, late menopause, taking combined hormone replacement therapy, and taking oral contraceptives. These risk factors are all associated with increased estrogen exposure.

Biology shows that estrogen, without the balancing effects of the other pregnancy hormones, is a factor in increased breast cancer risk. Induced abortion increases a woman's total estrogen exposure, ultimately increasing her risk for breast cancer.

Beginning in 1957 and as current as the fall 2007 Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, there have been more than 50 studies in peer-reviewed medical journals that have shown an increased risk of breast cancer among women who have had induced abortions.

In addition there have been three medical malpractice lawsuits since 2002 in which the failure to warn women about the abortion-breast cancer link has resulted in two out-of-court settlements and one adjudicated judgment, all in favour of the post-abortive women who brought the suits forward.

For more information on abortion and breast cancer and the risk factors associated with increased estrogen exposure, click here.

Infertility

Induced abortion may be a contributing factor to future infertility, with symptoms often appearing years after the abortion when the woman attempts to conceive a child. The complications negatively influencing future fertility include post-abortal Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), uterine perforations causing scar tissue, uterine adhesions and retained fetal fragments, or endometrial ossification. Women whose first pregnancies end in abortion are at particular risk for future problems with fertility.(xlvii)

Pre-term birth (premature birth)

Induced abortion has been found to increase pre-term birth (before 33 weeks’ gestation) and early pre-term birth (20-30 weeks’ gestation) in following pregnancies. The risk increases with more abortions. Abortion can cause cervical injuries resulting in incompetent cervix, which is a risk factor for pre-term birth. Abortion is also associated with uterine scarring, adhesions and infection, which in turn increase the risk for pre-term birth. Pre-term birth is an important risk factor for cerebral palsy.(xlviii,xlix)

Placenta Previa

Abortion is associated with placenta previa in future pregnancies.(l) The placenta attaches very low in the uterus, partly covering the cervical opening. Placenta previa increases the risk for bleeding during pregnancy and labor, and can result in premature separation of the placenta, severe hemorrhage and fetal death.(li)

RH sensitization

When an RH negative mother carrying an RH positive fetus delivers her child, either through birth or abortion, the mother may become sensitized to RH antigens. The fetus’ RH antigens enter the mothers’ blood stream, stimulating her to develop anti-RH antigens. In future pregnancies with RH positive fetus’ these may cross back through the placenta and cause clumping of the fetus’s red blood cells, causing nerve and brain damage. Sensitization can also cause serious consequences with clumping of blood if the woman is ever transfused with RH positive blood. RH sensitization is avoidable in childbirth and abortion with an immunization of the mother following delivery.(lii,liii)

Ectopic Pregnancy

Abortion has been shown to be a risk factor for future ectopic pregnancy.

First published on AbortionInCanada.ca. Reprinted with permission