Most commonly, abortion involves elective surgery. As with all
forms of surgery, there are risks associated with the procedure.
For abortion, these risks increase dramatically the later in the
pregnancy the procedure is performed. Approximately 10% of women
undergoing elective abortion will suffer immediate
complications, of which approximately one-fifth (2%) are
considered life threatening. Possible physical risks of abortion
are listed below. Immediate health risks - Death - Women who
abort are approximately four times more likely to die in the
following year than women who carry their pregnancies to term,
according to a 1997 government funded study in Finland. -
Uterine perforation - About 2% of all abortion patients may
suffer perforation of their uterus, yet most of these injuries
will remain undiagnosed and untreated unless laparoscopic
visualization is performed.1 - Cervical lacerations -
Significant cervical lacerations requiring sutures occur in at
least one percent of first trimester abortions. Less