Is It Hard To Get Pregnant Again if I Have an Abortion? 

How will I feel if I have an abortion now, and when I’m ready to get pregnant in the future, I discover that I can’t? 

Is it hard to get pregnant again after I have an abortion?  

These are challenging – but good – questions women ask when considering abortion for an unexpected pregnancy. You are also wise and brave to ask them because whether or not to have an abortion may be the hardest decision you’ve ever faced.  

So if you’re considering abortion, read on as we explore these important answers here.  

Is It Hard To Get Pregnant Again if I Have an Abortion?

Is it hard to get pregnant after an abortion? The answer is: It depends.  

If you have an abortion without any complications, you can become pregnant very quickly afterward. You can ovulate as soon as seven days after an abortion, which means if you have unprotected sex, it’s possible to become pregnant before your next period after an abortion. 

Because you can ovulate so quickly after an abortion, it’s essential to take every precaution to prevent an unexpected pregnancy.  

However, if you experience abortion complications, they can affect your ability to get pregnant in the future. We’ll discuss what those abortion complications are next. 

1. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease is the first abortion complication that can cause difficulty getting pregnant when you’re ready.  

Mayo Clinic describes Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Pelvic (PID) as an infection of the female reproductive organs, which include your uterus, cervix, vagina, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. 

Bacteria from gonorrhea or chlamydia most commonly cause PID, but there are others. Whenever the cervix is opened, such as during a medical abortion or a surgical abortion, PID-causing bacteria can travel higher into your reproductive tract.  

Infertility occurs due to scarring – a complication of PID. Scarring can block fallopian tubes preventing pregnancy or causing an ectopic pregnancy in the future (a medical emergency that occurs when the pregnancy is outside of the uterus). 

2. Asherman’s Syndrome

The next abortion complication that can cause future infertility is Asherman’s Syndrome.  

During a surgical abortion, the clinician uses surgical instruments to clean out the inside of the uterus. According to the National Organization for Rare Diseases, Asherman’s syndrome is bonded scar tissue (adhesions) in the uterus that can be caused by abortion from trauma to the uterus during surgical scraping of the wall of the uterus.  

The bonded scarring in Asherman’s Syndrome leads to difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant.  

3. Hysterectomy

 A hysterectomy is an operation to remove the uterus, which makes it impossible to become pregnant in the future. Out of every 10,000 women who have an abortion, 1.4 experience complications severe enough to require a hysterectomy. Severe abortion complications include:  

• Uncontrollable bleeding  
• A severe infection 
• Unrepairable damage to the uterus from surgical instruments 

Get Your Abortion Questions Answered

At Corbella Clinic, we understand how difficult it is to learn to about abortion risks as you educate yourself before deciding what to do. However, we also believe you’re empowered when you have accurate facts to guide your decision-making about your unexpected pregnancy to minimize regrets down the road.  

You are strong! 

You are beautiful! 

We trust you to make the best decision for you and your future! 

Our licensed healthcare professionals are available to offer compassionate care during this challenging time. We provide education and no-cost, pregnancy-related medical services. 

If you want unbiased answers to your questions and support without judgment, no matter what you decide, reach out for an appointment today.  

Resources: 

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, April 30). Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352594 

Sencen, L. (2021, March 15). Asherman’s syndrome. NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). Retrieved from https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/ashermans-syndrome/#:~:text=Asherman’s%20syndrome%20is%20most%20commonly,known%20as%20D%20%26%20C).