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Apr. 12th, 2004 02:05 amYes, I only just finished the english paper due today, at 1:59 am. *yawn* Now on to German, and then, more english! I have a poster and I have to do a book talk (kinda like those ones you did in elementary school where you tried to get people to read the book) plus the paper due tomorrow and I am screwed. Plus, to add insult to injury (no, that doesn't really fit, I just wanted to say it) I was chewing on the back of my pen, and now I have a purple mouth. And it tasted nasty! The paper is pretty good, I think, let's see: 12 April, 2004
Alexandria B
Maternal Complications in Adolescent Elective Abortions
(Please note that when the author refers to an abortion, unless otherwise specified, it signifies an elective
abortion.)
The risk of mortality and severe complications following an elective abortion doubles every two
weeks after the first eight.(Mishell 1742) There are immediate complications that affect the mother during
the procedure. Also, some time later problems may arise that can be attributed to the abortion. If a woman
who has previously had an abortion later desires a baby, there is a severely increased incidence of
unhealthy infants or spontaneous abortion.
During the procedure to abort a fetus, the severity of things that go wrong during the process
increases with younger patients and late-term gestation. (Mishell 1742) During suction, Dilation and
Curettage (D&C), or Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) procedures the abortionist cannot see what he or she
is doing. Movements that are too forceful or rapid may puncture through the uterus and into the bowel or
bladder. When an unripe placenta is removed from the walls of the uterus, the blood vessels that provided
the placenta with nourishment are exposed. This can cause hemorrhage or an embolism if air, tissue, or
blood clots are forced into the blood vessel. If the embolism flows through the blood stream to the brain,
heart, or lungs, it can cause a stroke, myocardial infarction, or pulmonary embolism, respectively. Also,
patients may react to medication they are given, or be given the wrong amount of anesthesia.
Prostaglandins are commonly given to stimulate uterine contractions, but can cause asthma attacks and
seizures. When complications occur during a procedure, they often lead to worse ones later on.
After the procedure, patients are commonly given prophylactic antibiotics. Even if taken correctly,
infection may occur. Most common infections after an abortion are Salpingitis, or Pelvic Inflammatory
Disease, and Endometritis, or a general uterine infection. A quick diagnosis and prompt treatment still may
not prevent chronic pain. Also, aborting the first pregnancy carries a 30-50% increase in breast cancer
risk.(Sobie/Reardon) Teenagers wishing to conceal their pregnancy may therefore not take antibiotics
properly, resulting in an increased risk of resistance to the antibiotics during a later illness.
If a mother who has aborted her child wants to have a baby later, her chances for the infant to be
healthy have decreased incredibly. A professor at the University of Newcastle-on-Tyne reported on his
follow up of 50 teenage mothers that he performed an abortion on. He found that the results were “rather
dismal.” Between the 50 women, there were 53 subsequent pregnancies, six ending in another induced
abortion, nineteen ending in spontaneous miscarriages, one delivering a baby stillborn at six months, six
babies dying between birth and two years, and only 21 babies surviving past their second birthday. (Russell
689) Also, during the abortion procedure, the cervix is put under great stress, especially the adolescent’s
underdeveloped one, and often stretches and tears, resulting in the muscle being weakened. In later
pregnancies, it may open prematurely, resulting in spontaneous abortion or premature delivery. Scar tissue
built up in the fallopian tubes may allow sperm to pass through for fertilization, however, the egg implants
in the tube instead of the uterus, and as the fetus grows, the tube swells, causing pain, and rupture often
leads to sepsis, hemorrhage, and death.
Late term abortions in adolescents occur after 13 weeks gestation 30% of the time, compared to
12% in older patients. (Sobie/Reardon) Waiting to have an abortion until later in gestation severely
increases the complication rate, as stated above. Not all complications caused by an abortion are reported
as such. Often, the doctor reports the cause of death as hemorrhage, for example, when the hemorrhage
was caused by the abortionist’s mistake to avoid possible lawsuits, resulting in only 5-10% of abortion-
caused deaths being attributed to the actual cause of death. (Ankerberg/Weldon 58) Complications from an
abortion at any stage of life can affect the patient immediately, after some time, or when a future pregnancy
is desired, and not only immediate complications should be considered when selecting a course of action.
Works Cited
Ankerberg, John, and Weldon, John. When Does Life Begin. Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth and
Hyatt, Publishers, 1989, p.58
Mishell, Daniel R., MD. “Family Planning.” The Merck Manual. various contributors.
Rahway: Merck Sharp& Dohme Research Laboratories, 1987: p.1740-1742.
Russell, J., “Sexual Activity and Its Consequences in the Teenager.”
Clinics in OB, GYN, vol. 1, no. 3, Dec. 1974, p. 683-698
Sobie, Amy R. and Reardon, David C., Ph.D., “Detrimental Effects of Adolescent Abortion.” The
Elliot Institute 2001. <http://www.afterabortion.org/par/v9/n1/teens_vs_older.html>
Yeah, the formatting screwed itself when I copied and pasted, but it can go ride a broom (and I'm not talking about flying, either. *suggestive wink*
Alexandria B
Maternal Complications in Adolescent Elective Abortions
(Please note that when the author refers to an abortion, unless otherwise specified, it signifies an elective
abortion.)
The risk of mortality and severe complications following an elective abortion doubles every two
weeks after the first eight.(Mishell 1742) There are immediate complications that affect the mother during
the procedure. Also, some time later problems may arise that can be attributed to the abortion. If a woman
who has previously had an abortion later desires a baby, there is a severely increased incidence of
unhealthy infants or spontaneous abortion.
During the procedure to abort a fetus, the severity of things that go wrong during the process
increases with younger patients and late-term gestation. (Mishell 1742) During suction, Dilation and
Curettage (D&C), or Dilation and Evacuation (D&E) procedures the abortionist cannot see what he or she
is doing. Movements that are too forceful or rapid may puncture through the uterus and into the bowel or
bladder. When an unripe placenta is removed from the walls of the uterus, the blood vessels that provided
the placenta with nourishment are exposed. This can cause hemorrhage or an embolism if air, tissue, or
blood clots are forced into the blood vessel. If the embolism flows through the blood stream to the brain,
heart, or lungs, it can cause a stroke, myocardial infarction, or pulmonary embolism, respectively. Also,
patients may react to medication they are given, or be given the wrong amount of anesthesia.
Prostaglandins are commonly given to stimulate uterine contractions, but can cause asthma attacks and
seizures. When complications occur during a procedure, they often lead to worse ones later on.
After the procedure, patients are commonly given prophylactic antibiotics. Even if taken correctly,
infection may occur. Most common infections after an abortion are Salpingitis, or Pelvic Inflammatory
Disease, and Endometritis, or a general uterine infection. A quick diagnosis and prompt treatment still may
not prevent chronic pain. Also, aborting the first pregnancy carries a 30-50% increase in breast cancer
risk.(Sobie/Reardon) Teenagers wishing to conceal their pregnancy may therefore not take antibiotics
properly, resulting in an increased risk of resistance to the antibiotics during a later illness.
If a mother who has aborted her child wants to have a baby later, her chances for the infant to be
healthy have decreased incredibly. A professor at the University of Newcastle-on-Tyne reported on his
follow up of 50 teenage mothers that he performed an abortion on. He found that the results were “rather
dismal.” Between the 50 women, there were 53 subsequent pregnancies, six ending in another induced
abortion, nineteen ending in spontaneous miscarriages, one delivering a baby stillborn at six months, six
babies dying between birth and two years, and only 21 babies surviving past their second birthday. (Russell
689) Also, during the abortion procedure, the cervix is put under great stress, especially the adolescent’s
underdeveloped one, and often stretches and tears, resulting in the muscle being weakened. In later
pregnancies, it may open prematurely, resulting in spontaneous abortion or premature delivery. Scar tissue
built up in the fallopian tubes may allow sperm to pass through for fertilization, however, the egg implants
in the tube instead of the uterus, and as the fetus grows, the tube swells, causing pain, and rupture often
leads to sepsis, hemorrhage, and death.
Late term abortions in adolescents occur after 13 weeks gestation 30% of the time, compared to
12% in older patients. (Sobie/Reardon) Waiting to have an abortion until later in gestation severely
increases the complication rate, as stated above. Not all complications caused by an abortion are reported
as such. Often, the doctor reports the cause of death as hemorrhage, for example, when the hemorrhage
was caused by the abortionist’s mistake to avoid possible lawsuits, resulting in only 5-10% of abortion-
caused deaths being attributed to the actual cause of death. (Ankerberg/Weldon 58) Complications from an
abortion at any stage of life can affect the patient immediately, after some time, or when a future pregnancy
is desired, and not only immediate complications should be considered when selecting a course of action.
Works Cited
Ankerberg, John, and Weldon, John. When Does Life Begin. Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth and
Hyatt, Publishers, 1989, p.58
Mishell, Daniel R., MD. “Family Planning.” The Merck Manual. various contributors.
Rahway: Merck Sharp& Dohme Research Laboratories, 1987: p.1740-1742.
Russell, J., “Sexual Activity and Its Consequences in the Teenager.”
Clinics in OB, GYN, vol. 1, no. 3, Dec. 1974, p. 683-698
Sobie, Amy R. and Reardon, David C., Ph.D., “Detrimental Effects of Adolescent Abortion.” The
Elliot Institute 2001. <http://www.afterabortion.org/par/v9/n1/teens_vs_older.html>
Yeah, the formatting screwed itself when I copied and pasted, but it can go ride a broom (and I'm not talking about flying, either. *suggestive wink*
