Abortion complications can lead to infertility

Artificial abortion refers to the operation of terminating pregnancy by artificial means within 10 weeks of pregnancy in the early stage of pregnancy. It is mainly used for those who want to terminate pregnancy due to contraceptive failure or various diseases. Generally, artificial abortion is a minor operation and has little impact on health.

Since this operation is usually not performed under direct vision, if the operation is not standardized or the genital inflammation has not been treated before the operation, it may cause postoperative complications and affect the next pregnancy. In our outpatient clinic, we often encounter many patients with secondary infertility who have never become pregnant after abortion. All of them are caused by complications after abortion. The main complications are:

(1) Adhesions of the cervix or uterine cavity: These are caused by infection after damage to the endometrium. Adhesions of the cervix prevent menstrual blood from flowing out and accumulate in the uterine cavity, or flow through the fallopian tubes to the pelvic cavity, causing abdominal pain, which may later lead to pelvic endometriosis. Mild adhesions of the uterine cavity can reduce menstruation, while severe adhesions can cause amenorrhea.

(2) Damage to the functional layer of the endometrium: This is caused by excessive vacuum or curettage. If the functional layer of the endometrium is partially damaged, the main manifestation is a decrease in menstrual volume; if the functional layer of the endometrium is completely damaged, amenorrhea will occur, but there will be no symptoms of intrauterine adhesions.

(3) Fallopian tube blockage: Fallopian tube blockage caused by endometritis

The above three situations can hinder the movement and combination of sperm and egg, or affect the implantation of fertilized egg and cause infertility. If the basal body temperature is measured or the follicles are monitored by B-ultrasound after abortion, indicating that the ovarian function is normal and ovulation occurs, then the infertility is most likely caused by the above factors.

The above diagnosis can be made through B-ultrasound, hysteroscopy and hysterosalpingography.