Abortion is a legal procedure in Singapore that is well-established and safe when performed by an accredited and experienced professional. Despite its proven safety and accessibility, myths persist, one of which being the idea that abortions cause infertility.
When performed in a sanitary and controlled environment by a licensed abortion doctor, an abortion will not affect the woman’s fertility as complications will be rare.
On the contrary, it is entirely possible for a woman to get pregnant immediately after an abortion. Her ovulation cycle will typically resume 2 to 3 weeks after the procedure, and once ovulation starts, a woman can become pregnant again in as early as 7 to 10 days.
Getting pregnant shortly after undergoing abortion services are not recommended. Doctors would generally advise waiting for at least 3 months before trying for a baby in order to allow the body to fully rest and recover. Contraceptive options will be discussed to ensure that the chances of an unwanted pregnancy are minimised in the future.
However, women should still be mindful of the toll of having multiple abortions, especially within a short period of time. The procedure itself is very safe, but not completely risk-free. For instance, unsafe or illegal abortion procedures can damage a woman’s reproductive organs or cause infections which may impact fertility. Furthermore, it can also result in a weakened cervix, which increases the risks for preterm labour.
Nonetheless, abortion in itself, when performed safely by a professional, will not result in infertility. If a woman finds herself unable to conceive years after an abortion, it could be due to other factors such as age, other gynaecological issues or male factor infertility from her partner. A gynaecologist will be able to help assess these issues accordingly.
