An abortion comes with many factors to consider. Often, future fertility is one of these considerations. Perhaps, you are seeking an abortion because now is not the right time for a baby, but in the future, you’d like to start a family. You’ll want to know if an abortion puts this future at risk. Abortion is not a risk-free procedure, so we encourage you to look at every possibility before coming to a decision. But we’re to help you along the way, and today, we’ll answer the question: does abortion cause infertility? 

Medical Abortions & Infertility Risk

While medical abortions (also known as the abortion pill) do have inherent risks, infertility is generally not one of them. There is no current evidence that the abortion pill does or can cause infertility. In fact, one study showed that women who took the abortion pill were at a high risk of becoming pregnant again shortly after—this shows that there isn’t even a temporary impact on fertility after a medical abortion. 

However, while you may not have to worry about your future fertility with the abortion pill, medical abortions can cause infections, hemorrhaging, and other negative side effects, so carefully research all the considerations before you come to a final decision to use this method. 

Surgical Abortions & Infertility Risk

For surgical abortion, the risk of infertility is low, but it is higher than the abortion pill due to the surgical complications associated with this type of abortion. For example, surgical abortions come with the risk of cervical injury or uterine perforation, which can lead to infertility. This is especially true if a woman has multiple surgical abortions, as you’re more at risk for scarring and damage that can cause infertility. 

There are also two conditions that can be caused by surgical abortions that may eventually lead to fertility struggles. These conditions are: 

What Is Asherman’s Syndrome? 

Asherman’s Syndrome is a condition that can occur after any uterine surgery, including abortions such as D&Cs. The syndrome occurs when scar tissue builds up inside the uterus, which can lead to pain and infertility. 

Because this condition is caused by scarring, the more surgical abortions someone has, the more likely they are to experience this condition and disease-related infertility. 

Some symptoms of this condition include: 

This condition is treatable, but it does require surgery to remove the scar tissue from the uterus and then hormonal treatments and an intrauterine catheter to promote healing. However, if this surgery successfully removes the scar tissue, pregnancy is possible after healing.

What Is Pelvic Inflammatory Disease?

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection that occurs in the female reproductive system, causing inflammation, pain, and potential infertility. While rare, PID can occur any time the natural barrier of the cervix is disturbed or opened, which includes surgical abortions. By disturbing or opening the cervix, bacteria can get into the uterus and cause infection. This most commonly occurs with unsafe surgical abortions—in fact, a study showed that unsafe abortions caused 23% of PID cases in a group of women in India. 

Some symptoms include: 

PID is a huge cause of infertility. In fact, one in 10 women who have or had PID will experience infertility as a result. 

Once diagnosed, PID can be treated with antibiotics for both the woman and her partner. PID is most commonly caused by STIs, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. To avoid PID from occurring again, the partner should ensure they are treated for any STIs, even if they have no symptoms. 

Keep Yourself Safe from PID with a Free STI Test. 

Schedule an STI test.

Can Abortion Cause Ovarian Failure?

Ovarian failure, or primary ovarian insufficiency, is a condition that occurs when the ovaries stop working before the age of 40, causing an early menopause of sorts. This can cause infertility since the ovaries are no longer releasing eggs or enough estrogen to continue the reproductive cycle. 

As to whether abortion can cause this, the answer is no, there’s no evidence abortion can cause ovarian failure. However, HIV, an STI, can lead to ovarian failure, so make sure you test yourself regularly to protect your body from these diseases and conditions. 

Can You Have IVF If You’ve Had an Abortion?

Abortion shouldn’t impact your ability to use IVF in the future if you end up having fertility issues—abortion-related or not. That being said, during the IVF process, you should be upfront with your doctor about your reproductive history, including any abortions or related complications, to ensure the best chance of success. 

How Soon Can You Become Pregnant after an Abortion? 

As we mentioned briefly earlier, abortion without complications does not impact fertility—even in the short term—so you can become pregnant again immediately after an abortion without the proper precautions. Abortion doesn’t impact the ovulation cycle, so if you engage in intercourse after an abortion and are fertile, you could end up with another unplanned pregnancy on your hands. If you would like to talk to someone about preventing pregnancy, our registered nurses are available to help you.

Signs of Infertility After Abortion

Infertility is a hard road to walk down and often can feel like a lonely one. The struggles of trying to conceive cannot be overstated. If you’re struggling with fertility, we want you to know that you’re not alone and that there is healing and hope. 

We believe knowledge is power, so if you’ve had an abortion in the past and want to figure out if caused any fertility issues, here are the signs you should look out for: 

If you experience any of these symptoms after an abortion, talk to your doctor about them and any plans you have to get pregnant. 

Know What to Expect Before You Choose Abortion

If you’re trying to decide whether or not to have an abortion, that’s a hard decision to make, and there are several factors to consider, including future fertility. Fortunately, you don’t have to navigate through these difficult decisions and potential consequences alone. At A Woman’s Choice, we offer abortion consultations, so you can know everything you need to know before coming to a final decision. 

If you’ve had an abortion and now struggle with conceiving, we want to take a moment to acknowledge your pain. This is not an easy road to navigate, but you are not alone on it. Our team offers post-abortion services where you can meet women like you and receive the emotional healing you need as you walk through this journey. Find hope again at A Woman’s Choice.

Author

Dr. Carol J. Ebersole

Dr. Carol J. Ebersole is a board certified radiologist, specializing in interventional radiology in Lakeland, Florida and is affiliated with the Watson Clinic and Lakeland Regional Health. She received her undergraduate degree from Stetson University and her medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine. She served in the military as a radiologist, and has been in practice for more than 20 years.