QUESTION

 I've heard that having an abortion is actually safer than having a baby. Is this true?

DOCTOR'S ANSWER

No, though we've heard the sales pitch about it being otherwise, haven't we? A long term study from Finland published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2004; 190: 422-427) showed a 2.95 times higher rate of death for women who abort than for women carrying pregnancies to term. Other complications include infection, bleeding, Rh sensitization, abdominal pain, pelvic inflammatory disease, sterility, cervical laceration, and uterine perforation. Studies out of Norway (BMC Medicine 2005, 3:18, 12 December 2005) and New Zealand (Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry,Vol. 47, Is. 1, pp 16-24) confirm higher rates of major depression and anxiety issues with abortion as well.