Abortions that are carried out on women in Kenya are either medically sanctioned or done in unlicensed backstreet clinics. Typically, an abortion that is done in a certified healthcare facility by a qualified medical professional should not affect the chances of a woman getting pregnant and delivering normally in the future. However, some Kenyan women opt to go to quacks resulting in an abortion that leads to complications afterwards and fear that they will never be able to get pregnant again.
Although the chances of infertility because of abortion are quite low, there are factors that increase its probability of affecting your ability to conceive in the future.
Multiple abortions – The effect of having many abortions is the straining of the uterus wall each time the foetus is forcibly removed. The result of the strain may be improper implantation at conception leading to complications in pregnancy or even miscarriage.
Post-abortion infections – Surgical abortions that are done in unhygienic conditions can lead to an infection in the uterus or cervix. If not treated in time, infections can result in pelvic inflammatory disease or infertility.
Damage to cervix or uterus – Some abortions require the insertion of instruments into the cervix and uterus. These instruments can damage the area in or around the sensitive areas of the reproductive system, making it hard to conceive.
To ensure that a previous abortion did not affect your ability to conceive, it is advisable for women planning to get pregnant to seek medical advice. Majority of gynaecologists in Kenya will run a number of tests to ensure that the uterus is in good condition and advice on the way forward after getting backing the results.
