Can Women Die If They Can’t Have An Abortion?

August 2, 2022

The conversation around abortion can be tricky at times. News coverage today has made it difficult to understand abortion language and know what’s true or not. We want to help you better understand possible pregnancy complications and assure you that women won’t die if they can’t access abortion.

One key point to keep in mind: The purpose of an abortion procedure is to terminate an existing pregnancy, not resolve a pregnancy complication. 

Possible Pregnancy Complications

It’s actually very rare that an abortion is medically necessary to save the life of the mother. This is true for two reasons:

• Removing an ectopic pregnancy isn’t considered an abortion since the pregnancy is nonviable 
• If the woman’s life is at risk for another reason, the doctor can perform a c-section to try to save both lives

While removing an ectopic pregnancy or performing a c-section are not considered abortions, if for some reason a woman did need an abortion for a life-threatening situation, she could still get one because of state law exceptions for life of the mother.  

An ultrasound is vital to confirm whether or not you have any potential pregnancy complications and to understand how far along you are.

Ectopic Pregnancy COMPLICATIONS

Some women experience an ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when a fertilized egg attaches outside of the uterus. A fertilized egg attaches to the fallopian tube 90% of the time, but sometimes to the ovary, cesarean section scar, cervix, or even the abdomen. 

Even though an ectopic pregnancy will grow, it cannot survive and can threaten your health. If pregnancy is located in a fallopian tube, it can cause it to burst or rupture. This is why an ultrasound is necessary to detect this complication as early as possible. 

A Miscarriage 

According to the Mayo Clinic, around 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. This number is probably higher since a miscarriage can occur very early in pregnancy and a woman may not even know she’s pregnant and miscarried. Many times, what a woman thinks is her monthly cycle can actually be the pregnancy tissue leaving her body.

Infection is a serious risk of miscarriage. Following up with your doctor is important if you think it happened to you. Common signs of infection are fever, chills, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, a resting heart rate of over 100 beats per minute, or lower abdominal tenderness. 

Recovery after a miscarriage can take a few hours or even a couple of days. An ultrasound can confirm if you miscarried or not, so it’s important not to skip this step of pregnancy confirmation. Talk to a medical professional today for guidance on what to do if you suspect a miscarriage. 

Before Traveling for Abortion

If you are considering traveling for abortion in another state, schedule a free and confidential pregnancy confirmation appointment with us today to confirm your pregnancy details with both lab-quality pregnancy testing and an ultrasound. Find the clarity you need.

Our compassionate team is here to reassure you of the details of your pregnancy and help you make your next step. You are not alone.