Does Abortion Affect Fertility? Separating Fact from Fiction

Does Abortion Affect Fertility? Separating Fact from Fiction

The idea that abortions threaten future fertility has been around almost as long as abortion itself. The truth is that a safely performed abortion without complications will likely have no impact on fertility. Many women who have abortions go on to have successful pregnancies and healthy children, if they choose to do so.

That being said, it’s worth understanding where this idea has come from, and the relationship between both medical abortion and surgical abortion and fertility.

In this article, we’ll answer some of the most common questions we get as a leading sexual health clinic, including:

·       Does medical abortion affect future fertility?

·       Do multiple abortions affect fertility?

·       And, how soon after having an abortion can you get pregnant again?

Understanding the link between abortion and fertility

The belief that abortion has long term consequences for fertility dates all the way back to ancient Greece and Egypt when these procedures were inexpertly performed with herbal remedies. The limited understanding of female biology and reproductive health made these early iterations of abortion highly dangerous and imprecise. Well into the nineteenth century, this lack of medical knowledge meant that abortion was viewed with suspicion and associated with potential harm to fertility.

So, does an abortion affect fertility? The truth is that modern abortion, both medical and surgical, has extremely limited impact on fertility, and many women can get pregnant as soon as they ovulate following the procedure. Today, a medical termination up to 9 weeks’ gestation is approximately 95.1 to 97.7% effective, while surgical termination is over 97% effective.

Serious risks like trauma to the cervix or damage to the uterus are extremely rare, with approximately 1 in 1,000 women affected. It’s also worth noting that not all complications lead to infertility, and only very specific cases may cause issues with the ability to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term.

Does having an abortion affect future fertility? Types of abortion and their impact:

Any threat to future fertility can feel scary, especially if you have your heart set on getting pregnant down the line. The reality is that the likelihood of abortion leading to infertility is exceptionally low.

In fact, if you have had an unplanned pregnancy, you can clearly conceive without too much difficulty, so when you are ready to start planning pregnancy you should have no trouble.

Termination of pregnancy is a medical procedure, which means there is always an element of risk. However, the compassionate team at our trusted women’s health clinic will make every effort to explain these risks and reduce the risk of any complications.

Below is a breakdown of the different types of abortion and their impact on fertility. Across the board, the risk is low, but it’s worth understanding all the same.

Type of Abortion	Description	Impact on Future Fertility
Medical Abortion	Uses medication (usually mifepristone and misoprostol) to end an early pregnancy (up to ~10 weeks).	Generally no impact on fertility; normal conception possible soon after recovery.
Surgical Abortion (Vacuum Aspiration / Suction Curettage)	Procedure to remove pregnancy tissue via suction, typically up to 12–14 weeks.	Fertility usually returns immediately. Rare complications like infection could affect fertility.
Dilation and Curettage (D&C)	Surgical removal of pregnancy tissue using instruments to scrape the uterus, often used for incomplete abortion or later stages.	Low risk of fertility issues, but repeated D&Cs or infection may slightly increase risk of scarring (Asherman’s syndrome), which can affect fertility.
Dilation and Evacuation (D&E)	Used for second-trimester abortions (after 14 weeks). Involves dilating the cervix and removing tissue surgically.	Rarely affects fertility, though complications like infection or uterine trauma could have long-term effects.
Induction Abortion	Labour is medically induced to expel the pregnancy, usually later in pregnancy.	Minimal risk to fertility if medically managed and without complications, though late-term procedures carry slightly higher risk of complications.

So what’s the takeaway? Only rare complications, like infection or uterine trauma, from surgical abortions and D&C procedures can have long-term consequences for fertility. Infections following an abortion can lead to conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which may increase the risk of infertility. However, with proper medical care and timely treatment, the risk remains very low.

How soon can you get pregnant after an abortion?

Fertility can return very soon after the procedure. For most women, regardless of what kind of abortion has been undertaken, ovulation will return within three weeks. Pregnancy is possible as soon as you begin ovulating again, which could be within a month. For this reason, it’s important to take measures to safeguard yourself against another pregnancy.

Risks associated with multiple abortions:

We know that the link between abortion and fertility has been grossly exaggerated, but does having two abortions affect fertility? Do the associated risks change with multiple procedures?

Repeated D&Cs can lead to something called Asherman’s syndrome.

Studies show that around 1-2% of women who have multiple D&C procedures develop this condition. Asherman’s syndrome can cause menstrual irregularities, difficulty getting pregnant, or complications during pregnancy.

However, with early diagnosis and treatment (which may include surgery or hormone therapy) many women are able to restore their fertility.

While the risk does increase, the vast majority of women who have one or two abortions do not experience long-term fertility issues.

Does getting an abortion affect fertility? Common myths:

Myth: An abortion can make it harder to get pregnant in the future. 

Fact: In reality, most women who have an abortion don’t face any fertility issues. As long as there are no complications, abortion won’t affect your ability to get pregnant later.

Myth: Abortion can increase the chances of having a miscarriage in future pregnancies. 

Fact: There is no evidence to support this. Having a safe, legal abortion doesn’t lead to future pregnancy problems.

Myth: Abortion can damage the uterus, making it difficult to carry a pregnancy to term later. 

Fact: While any surgical procedure carries some risk, modern abortions don’t cause permanent damage to the uterus.

Myth: More than one abortion will always harm your fertility. 

Fact: While multiple abortions can increase the risk of complications like infections or scarring if not handled properly, it’s not a guarantee. With the right medical care, many women go on to have healthy pregnancies even after multiple abortions.

Myth: Abortion will permanently alter your period. 

Fact: After an abortion, it might take a little while for your menstrual cycle to return to normal, but you should be back on track within a few weeks to months. Long-term changes are rare.

Myth: Abortion will make future pregnancies more difficult or lead to birth defects. 

Fact: Most women who have had an abortion go on to have healthy pregnancies without issues. Complications are very rare and manageable with proper care.

Contact Clinic 66 for more information:

The myth that abortions impact future fertility is pervasive, and it’s normal to be concerned. The most important thing to know is that both medical and surgical abortions, when administered by trained healthcare professionals, do not threaten future fertility.

If you have more questions about abortion, fertility, or your sexual and reproductive health, Clinic 66 is here for you.