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WHY CAN'T WE LOVE THEM BOTH
by Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Willke
CHAPTER 20
MATERNAL COMPLICATIONS
Immediate
Scientific reports on maternal complications from induced abortion
are grossly inaccurate.
Why?
Published reports from scientific studies all come from university
medical centers. Surgery in them is done by highly qualified surgeons. Further, they have
immediate access to topnotch care if a mishap occurs.
But less than 10% of U.S. abortions are done in such elite
institutions. Consequently their reports of safety or hazards do not in any way reflect
the actual situation "out there" where over 90% of abortions are done in
free-standing, for-profit abortion facilities or in doctors’ offices.
Aren’t there any reports on those "out there"?
The typical abortion mill will rarely report any complications. If
the problem is acute, the injured woman is taken by van (never an ambulance -that’s
bad publicity) to the nearest emergency room and left there. More commonly, she’ll be
sent home. If she bleeds, gets septic, etc., she must seek help elsewhere, as the abortion
mills rarely give any follow-up care.
But aren’t there state or federal reports?
There are reporting regulations in most states, but these are
largely voluntary, and most private clinics simply don’t report complications. Many
don’t even report the abortions done, e.g., in some states abortion reporting was
highly inaccurate. A glaring example of this was Ohio, 1988. This was the last year of
Gov. Richard Celeste’s term. Celeste was pro-abortion and had apparently not
adequately funded the health department reporting mechanism. In that year, the total
number of induced abortions reported from Hamilton County (Greater Cincinnati) was 3,218.
In an entirely separate report, Planned Parenthood, which runs one of the four busy
abortion mills in Cincinnati, in its national reporting stated that its abortion mill
alone had done 3,144. Subtracting the two, left only 74 abortions done in the other three
busy abortion mills in the city of Cincinnati. Obviously, this is absurd. Just as
obviously, those three abortion facilities were simply not reporting.
The next governor (George Voinovich) was pro-life, and when this was
called to his attention, a major change occurred, and it is felt that abortion reporting
now is probably accurate. This lack of supervision in the field of reporting is very
typical of the entire issue of abortion when reporting complications, deaths, etc.
Abortion reporting is different. It stands by itself. It cannot be compared to any other
medical procedure. Be advised, if these places do not even report how many they perform,
guess how many surgical complications they voluntarily report.
So
the U.S. Center for Disease Control reports don’t really reflect the actual
situation?
Correct -and for two reasons. One is that few
abortion complications are reported to them. The other is that this official government
Bureau has been shown to be consistently under-reporting the abortion complications sent
to it while over-exaggerating complications of pregnancy and delivery. M. Crutcher, Lime 5-Exploited by Choice, Genesis Pub. 1996,
Chapter 4, "Cooking the Books"
Isn’t there any accurate source?
A landmark expose’ has peeled back some of the curtain of
silence here. It is must reading for anyone who wants the true picture of the
abortion industry in the U.S., e.g.:
- It gives brief documented case histories of several hundred women
badly injured or killed by abortion, only a percentage of whom were reported.
- It details for the first
time sordid details of sexual abuse and assault in these clinics. "During our
research for this book, our observation was that a woman probably is less likely to be
injured, raped or killed at a Planned Parenthood facility than at a non-Planned Parenthood
one." But . . . "the difference is insignificant. About the best they could
claim to be is the cream of a rotten crop." ibid,
Chapter 3, p. 117
- It devotes 50 pages to
detailing the psychic problems, nightmares and breakdowns of those whose business is doing
abortions, another chapter to the total silence of the industry of the breast cancer
connection, and finally details the extreme difficulty of getting legal redress for her
injuries. ibid, Chapters 3, 4, 5
Well, let’s look at reported complications, even if some are
only the tip of the iceberg:
Please note that there are "tides in the
affairs of men" (and women). Before and after legalization in the ’70s and
’80s, there were many studies done. Few have been repeated in the past decade.
Rather, studies in the ’90s have moved to new areas such as In-Vitro, chemical
abortions, fetal reduction, chorionic villi and genetic testing, ultrasound, laparoscopic
surgery, etc. Accordingly, we present mostly older, classical studies, e.g.: A study of
11,057 pregnancies in Jerusalem, of whom 752 had had previous abortions, showed that those
with abortions were more likely to report bleeding in the first 3 months of this
pregnancy, less able to have a normal delivery, and more needed manual removal of the
placenta or other intervention in the third stage of labor. There was a significant
increase in low birth weight, a 3 to 4 times increase in neonatal deaths, and an increase
in fetal malformations. S. Harlap et al., "Late
Sequelae of Induced Abortion," Am. J. of Epid. (1975) 102, p. 217
Sterility is the most feared long-term complication of induced
abortion. This can result from scarring due to infection caused by the abortion. It can
also result from the surgical procedure itself. If the suction curette scrapes and cuts
too deeply across the tube opening, these can scar shut, and she is sterile.
Are there any studies?
"The relative risk of secondary infertility
among women with at least one induced abortion and no spontaneous miscarriages was 3-4
times that among non-aborted women." D.
Trichopoulos et al, "Induced Abortion & Secondary Infertility," British
Jour. OB/GYN, vol. 83, Aug. 1976, pp. 645-650 In
1974 Dr. Bohumil Stipal, Czechoslovakia’s deputy minister of health, stated:
"Roughly 25% of the women who interrupt their first pregnancy have remained
permanently childless."
Do miscarriages occur more frequently after induced abortions?
A Boston study by a group who have aggressively done
abortions denied any increase after one abortion, but, after two or more abortions, they
did find a "two-to three-fold increase in risk of first trimester spontaneous
abortions [miscarriages]," as well as "losses up to 28 weeks gestation." Levin et al., "Association of Induced Abortion with Subsequent
Pregnancy Loss," JAMA, vol. 243, no. 24, June 27, 1980, pp. 2495-2499
Of a group of 52 women who had induced abortions
10-15 years previously and who were followed very closely during that length of time, it
was found that one-half (27) had no problem with subsequent pregnancies. There was one
ectopic pregnancy, eight subsequent — but long-delayed — conceptions, and three
women with permanently blocked tubes. Of the remaining 11 women, there were 33 pregnancies
with 14 early and 3 midtrimester losses, 6 premature deliveries, and only 10 full-term
births. Hilgers et al., "Fertility Problems
Following an Aborted First Pregnancy." In New Perspectives on Human Abortion, edited
by S. Lembrych. University Publications of America, 1981, pp. 128-134
A high incidence of cervical incompetence resultant
from abortion has raised the incidence of spontaneous abortions to 30-40%. A. Kodasek, "Artificial Termination of Pregnancy in
Czechoslovakia," Internat’l Jour. of GYN & OB, vol. 9, no. 3, 1971
Women who had one induced abortion had a 17.5%
miscarriage rate in subsequent pregnancies, as compared to a 7.5% rate in a non-aborted
group. Richardson & Dickson, "Effects of Legal
Termination on Subsequent Pregnancy," British Med. Jour., vol. 1, 1976, pp.
1303-4
Women who had delivered their first pregnancy had
(in the second pregnancy) the "best reproductive performance." Those who had a
spontaneous miscarriage on the first had "the highest frequency of an early
loss." Those with induced abortion on their first had "the highest frequency of
late spontaneous abortion and premature delivery." Koller
& Eikham, "Late Sequelae of Induced Abortion in Primagravida" Acta OB-GYN Scand,
56 (1977) p. 311.
What about second trimester losses?
There was a doubled incidence of midtrimester
spontaneous losses. Herlap, New England Jour. of
Med., no. 301, 1979, pp. 677-681
"In a series of 520 patients who had
previously been aborted, 8.1% suffered a mid-trimester loss (compared to 2.4%
controls)." G. Ratter et al., "Effect of Abortion on
Maturity of Subsequent Pregnancy," Med. Jour. of Australia, June 1979, pp.
479-480
"There was a tenfold increase in the number of
second trimester miscarriages in pregnancies which followed a vaginal abortion." Wright et al., "Second Trimester Abortion after Vaginal
Termination of Pregnancy," The Lancet, June 10, 1972
"It is concluded that a relationship,
presumably of a cause effect relationship, exists between an induced abortion and a second
trimester abortion in a subsequent pregnancy." There also was a four fold increase in
prematurity. Puyenbeck and Stolte, Relationship Between
Spontaneous and Induced Abortion, and Second Trimester Abortion Subsequently, Europ. J.
OB-GYN, Reprod. Biol. 14, 1983, 299-309.
What of uterine rupture?
This condition occurs during labor in almost 1% of
cases when women have had earlier first trimester abortions. 140 D. Nemec et al., "Medical Abortion Complications," OB & GYN, vol. 51, no. 4, April 1978, pp. 433-436
Six percent of women who
become pregnant after hysterotomy abortions suffered rupture of their uterus. Substantial
risk of rupture was demonstrated in 26% of these cases. Babies who were born subsequently
were small for their due date. Clow & Crompton,
"The Wounded Uterus: Pregnancy after Hysterotomy," British Med. Jour., Feb.
10, 1973, p. 321
Uterine rupture (1%) is also one of the feared and
sometimes fatal complications from prostaglandin abortions. Duenhalter & Gant, "Complications Following Prostaglandin Mid-Trimester
Abortion," OB & GYN, vol. 46, no. 3, Sept. 1975, pp. 247-250
And urinary incontinence?
The major study here showed twice the amount of
urinary incontinence, 23.7%, after induced abortion as the incidence seen, 12.6%, after
term pregnancy. Slunsky, "Urinary Incontinence in
Pregnancy," Z. Geburt, Perinatology 165:329-35, 1966.
Do menstrual symptoms change after abortion?
"Women with prior abortions consistently
reported an excess of symptoms in all age groups." L.
Roth et al., "Increased Menstrual Symptoms Among Women Who Used Induced
Abortion," Amer. Jour. OB/GYN, vol. 127, Feb. 15, 1977, p. 356
What about synechia?
"The frequency of uterine adhesions [synechia] is especially
high among patients who have had two or more curettages. . . . Dr. J. G. Asherman, for
whom the syndrome is named, has reported intrauterine adhesions in 44 of 65 women who had two or more curettages." "Abortion Risks: Getting the Picture," Medical World News, Oct.
20, 1972
What about endometriosis?
This can develop along the needle or catheter tract
from the midtrimester puncture. Ferrare et al.,
"Abdominal Wall Endometriosis Following Saline Abortion," JAMA, vol. 238,
no. 1, July 4, 1977, pp. 56-57
Do abortions affect Rh sensitization?
"Even in very early suction abortions done
prior to eight weeks, fetal-maternal hemorrhage can occur, thereby sensitizing Rh-negative
women." M. Leong, "Rh Therapy Recommended in
Very Early Abortion," OB-GYN Observer, June 1978
This means that in later pregnancies, babies of
these mothers will have Rh problems, need transfusions, and occasionally be born dead or
die after birth. This can be tested for prior to the abortion and largely prevented by
giving the mother a very expensive medication called RhoGAM. If not done, the number who
become sensitized varies from "3% to 17%." Unfortunately, many abortion chambers
do not take this expensive precaution. J. Queenan,
Cornell University. Medical World News, April
30, 1971, p. 36G
What of placenta previa?
Placenta previa is when the afterbirth (placenta) covers part or all
of the cervix, the womb’s opening into the birth canal. It can be very serious and
usually requires a Cesarean section, sometimes with loss of the baby.
Doctor Barrett and others did a study at Vanderbilt
University in which they evaluated over 5,000 deliveries and found that those who had
prior induced abortions in the first trimester had a "seven to fifteen fold increased
prevalence of placenta previa." They linked it to scaring of the lining of the womb
from the currettage or suction aspiration "predisposing to the abnormal site of
placental implantation and an increased placental surface area." They also found that
the changes occurred with the first induced abortion and were permanent. Neither the time
elapsed nor the number of induced abortions changed this. Barrett et al., "Induced Abortion, A Risk Factor for Placenta Previa,"
Amer. Jour. OB/GYN, Dec. 1981, pp. 769-772
Women who report one or more spontaneous or induced
abortions are 30% more likely to have a subsequent pregnancy complicated by placenta
previa than those without such a history. V.
Taylor et al., Placenta Previa Related to Abortion; OB&GYN, 1993; 82:88-91
"We cannot exclude the possibility that
the large number of induced abortions plays a role in the remarkable increase in cases of
placenta previa. " Z. Bognar, "Mortality
and Morbidity Associated with Legal Abortions in Hungary, 1961-1973" Amer. Jour. Public Health, 1976, pp. 568-575
"We rather often observe complications such as
rigidity of the cervical os, placenta adherens, placenta accreta, and atony of the
uterus." A. Kodasek, "Artificial Termination
of Pregnancy in Czechoslovakia," Internat’l Jour. GYN/OB, vol. 9, no. 3,
1971
What is the incidence of ectopic pregnancies?
There has been a 600% increase in ectopic (or tubal) pregnancies in
the U.S. since abortion was legalized. In 1970 the incidence was 4.8 per 1,000 live
births. By 1980 it was 14.5 per 1,000 births. By 1992
it was 19.7 for a total of 108,800, and 28 women died. Center
for Disease Cont: AP/NY Times, Jan. 27, ’95
The thin-walled tube cannot support this life, and it soon ruptures,
causing internal bleeding and requiring emergency surgery.
Some of these deaths were after induced
abortions.
The mothers had their wombs emptied by
"abortion," when, in reality, the tiny baby was lodged in the tube. Later, the
tube ruptured and the women died. Rubin et al.,
"Fatal Ectopic Pregnancy After Attempted Induced Abortion," JAMA, vol.
244, no. 15, Oct. 10, 1980 H. Atrash et al., "Ectopic Preg. Concurrent With Induced
Abortion"; Am. J. OB-GYN, Mar. ’90, p. 726
How many of these were related to previous
abortions?
Among women who had aborted their
first pregnancy, there was a 500% increase in subsequent ectopic pregnancies. Chung et al., "Effects of Induced Abortion Complications on
Subsequent Reproductive Function," U. of Hawaii, Honolulu, 1981
In Athens, half of ectopic pregnancies may be attributed to previous
abortions — a ten fold relative risk.
Panayotou et al., "Induced Abortion &
Ectopic Preg." Am J. OB-GYN, 1972 114:507
Tubal pregnancy increased 30%
after one abortion and 160% after two or more abortions. Am. J. Public Health, 72:253-6, 1982
"Especially striking is an increased incidence in ectopic
pregnancies. " A. Kodasek,
"Artificial Termination of Pregnancy in Czechoslovakia," Internat’l
Jour. of GYN & OB, vol. 9, no. 3, 1971
Why is this?
"The increased incidence of PID —
especially Chlamydia — and induced abortion appear to play leading roles in the
dramatic rise in ectopic pregnancies." H. Barber,
"Ectopic Pregnancy, a Diagnostic Challenge," The Female Patient, vol. 9,
Sept. 1984, pp. 10-18
Women with chlamydia have more than twice as many
ectopic pregnancies. JAMA, June 1990
How does abortion cause tubal pregnancy?
If the abortionist’s curette scrapes or cuts too deeply across
the opening of the tubes, there is scar formation. When partial blockage is a result of
this procedure, the microscopic sperm can still travel through the tube to fertilize the
ovum as it breaks out of the ovary. After fertilization, this new human life, many hundred
times larger than the sperm, may not be able to get back through the tube if it has been
partly scarred closed.
Then the tiny baby nests in the tube, and the mother has an ectopic
pregnancy.
What of premature births?
A history of prior induced abortion was associated
with a modest increase in risk for a spontaneous pre-term delivery, which increased with
increasing numbers of induced abortions. I. Haas, et
al., "Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A Case-Control Study," Am. J. OB-GYN, 1991;
165:1290-6
See also Chapter 22 on fetal and infant complications.
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