Complications of Abor tion 255
Infection
If there is infection, it is more likely to be a mild infection if the
abortion was done sooner than 3 months (12 weeks) after the
last monthly bleeding.
Serious infection is an infection that has spread into the blood
(sepsis). A woman is more likely to have a serious infection if
the abortion was done later than 3 or 4 months from the last
monthly bleeding, or if there was an injury to the womb during the
abortion. Sepsis is very dangerous and can also cause shock.
Infection can happen because:
• an unclean hand or object was put inside the womb.
• pieces of the pregnancy were left inside the womb and they
have become infected.
• the woman already had an infection when she had
the abortion.
• a hole was made in the wall of the womb.
Signs of mild infection:
• slight fever
• mild pain in the abdomen
Treatment for mild infection:
To keep mild infection from becoming
serious, treat it immediately with the
medicines listed on page 256. A woman
needs more than one medicine because
infections after abortion are caused by
several different kinds of germs.
If the medicines listed on page 256 are
not available, see page 257 and the
“Green Pages” for others that will work.
A woman who is breastfeeding should
use the treatment for womb infection
after childbirth, see page 97.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012