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• Heavy bleeding

• Tearing of the cervix (opening to the womb)

• Puncture or tear of the womb

• Infection

• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Women - especially teenagers - who abort their first pregnancies, or who have a family history of breast cancer, are more at risk of developing breast cancer.

Psychologically, many women report:

• Feelings of guilt, depression

• Feelings of detachment from others

• Lack of interest in sex

• Diminished self-worth

• Increased drug or alcohol abuse

• Nightmares and flashbacks

Sometimes these symptoms don't show up for years after an abortion.

Dangers to future, wanted children

There are also dangers to future, wanted children:

• Sterility (one out of twenty women who abort may never again bear children)

• Miscarriages

• Premature births

• Ectopic (tubal) pregnancies

• Neo-natal deaths

Among teenage women, the effects of abortion on later wanted pregnancies appear to be even worse than among women in general.

Women who have sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia or gonorrhea at the time of their abortions run the risk of spreading the disease to their upper genital tracts. This is known as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, or PID, and is a major cause of miscarriages, ectopic (tubal) pregnancies, and sterility. Some women do not become aware they have PID until they have problems conceiving other children.

If you are experiencing a problem pregnancy, seek help from someone who will tell you about all the risks involved with abortion.

Related article: Special Days Not Happy Times for All

There are alternatives to abortion.