Unplanned and unwanted pregnancies, especially in adolescent girls, may result in the woman resorting to an induced abortion (deliberate termination of the pregnancy). Under certain conditions in some countries, a legal abortion may be induced safely in a health facility by trained health professionals. This procedure will not usually endanger a woman's future pregnancies.

A woman lies on a bed. Another woman is seated beside the bed comforting the friend. Another woman is at the end of the bed performing an abortion.

Unsafe abortion can cause heavy bleeding, serious infection, infertility or even death.

An unsafe abortion is a termination induced by the woman herself or by an unskilled person in an unhygienic environment.

A woman who was sick, injured or bled heavily after an abortion may have scars in her uterus that could cause problems for later pregnancies. Death from unsafe abortion is one of leading causes of mortality and morbidity globally and especially in developing countries.

Last modified: Wednesday, 16 July 2014, 6:12 PM