Is abortion safe?

ribbon Medically reviewed Aug 2020 by Robin Watkins, CNM, WHNP-BC

Legal abortion performed by a certified health care provider is very safe, just like many other common outpatient procedures. The rate of major complications is low, at 0.23%, which is similar to the rate of major complications caused by colonoscopies. And it actually has a lower rate of complications than wisdom tooth removal. The earlier in pregnancy you get an abortion, the lower the chances are of complications. Abortion doesn’t cause long-term health risks or affect your chances of getting pregnant in the future.

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