Secondary infertility following induced abortion. World Health Organization Task Force on Sequelae of Abortion, special programme of research, development and research training in human reproduction.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Prospective non-randomized controlled cohort study
What was done
A prospective controlled cohort study conducted at two university centers (Debrecen, Hungary and Seoul, South Korea) compared subsequent conception rates between women whose most recent pregnancy outcome was an induced abortion and women whose most recent outcome was a live birth. Cumulative life-table pregnancy rates were tracked at 6-month intervals over a 30-month follow-up period.
What was found
Cumulative pregnancy rates were reported as similar between the induced abortion and live birth groups across all 6-month intervals up to 30 months, though specific cumulative percentage rates were not reported in the abstract. Conception rates were higher in Debrecen than in Seoul for both groups. In the first 6 months, 4 of 229 pregnancies in the induced abortion group were ectopic, whereas 0 of 292 pregnancies in the live birth group were ectopic.
Why it matters
This study provides prospective evidence that induced abortion does not reduce subsequent conception rates compared to a prior live birth over 30 months of follow-up, while identifying a potential signal for ectopic pregnancy.
Limits
The abstract omits total enrolled sample size, exact cumulative pregnancy rates, and statistical significance testing. Important confounders such as abortion method, baseline pregnancy intention, and contraceptive use are not reported in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Scientific studies show that having an elective termination of pregnancy does not negatively impact long-term fertility.