Early complications of induced abortion in primigravidae

Of a total number of 521 patients, 461 (88.5%) returned for a follow-up examination. A gestational length of 10 weeks or less was terminated by vacuum aspiration, 11 weeks or more by prostaglandin administration. Uterine perforation occurred in two patients, in one complicated by pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) 6 weeks later. Previously, 6.7% had been treated for pelvic infection, and the overall rate of PID after the abortion was 4.1%. The incidence of PID was significantly higher in women of 18 years or younger, than in the older patients. PID was not correlated with gestational length, technique of abortion or methods of contraception after abortion. Patients 18 years and younger were characterized by low age of menarche, high frequency of smokers and low rate of married or cohabit status. The incidence of endometritis was 3.3%, and 4.8% required repeat curettage because of retained products of conception. We observed no correlation between endometritis or repeat curettage and age of the women, length of the pregnancy, technique of abortion or methods of contraception.