Abortion complications and their effect on subsequent pregnancies
Schulze, G.; Herold, C.
Zentralblatt für Gynakologie 100(19): 1261-1265
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-4197 PMID: 716693 Document Number: 134087
A study of 2147 induced abortions was undertaken to determine the frequency of complications and to determine the effect of an abortion on a subsequent pregnancy. 9.4% of the patients were 17 years of age or younger, 36.5% were single, 25.1% were nulliparae. The overall complication rate was 5.28%. The most frequent complications were inflammations, e.g., adnexitis, endometritis, parametritis: 1.58%. There was a .79% incidence of cervical injuries, 76.4% of which were among primigravidae. 151 of the patients became pregnant during the 2 years following the abortion; 87 carried the pregnancy to term. The incidence of spontaneous abortion among these patients was 25.3%, of cervical insufficiency 20.7% and of premature birth 13.8%. Only 35.6% of the pregnancies proceeded without complication. Perinatal mortality was 3.1%. Steps must be taken to prevent the use of induced abortion as a contraceptive measure, especially among young primigravidae.