Effects of abortion on subsequent pregnancies.

The loss of a very precious pregnancy in abortion could affect both the health of the patient and the outcome of her subsequent pregnancies. In a study of the outcome of the pregnancies that immediately follow an abortion, it was found that among women who had D&C to induce abortions in their previous pregnancies a higher incidence of abortion was found, and that these may be due to possible damage to the cervix, resulting from forcible dilatation of the cervix during the operation. It was also found, however, that a higher percentage of those who had abortions after 16 weeks in the previous pregnancies had premature deliveries in the current pregnancies. It was suggested that this may be attributable to cervical incompetence, although congenital or functional defects of the cervix may be contributory.