Abortion performed using unsafe methods like coat hangers carries significant risks of permanent infertility and life-threatening complications.

Mechanisms of Infertility Risk

1. Uterine Perforation: Sharp objects (e.g., coat hangers) can puncture the uterus, causing internal bleeding, organ damage, or sepsis[3][4]. Severe cases may require hysterectomy, permanently ending fertility[1][6].
2. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): Unsafe procedures often introduce bacteria, leading to infections that spread to the fallopian tubes. Scarring from PID can block fertilization, causing infertility[5][7].
3. Asherman’s Syndrome: Traumatic uterine damage may cause adhesions (scar tissue) that prevent embryo implantation. This is rare but linked to repeated uterine surgeries[1][5].
4. Chronic Sepsis: Incomplete abortions leave tissue debris, creating a breeding ground for bacteria. Untreated sepsis can cause multi-organ failure or death[6][8].

Comparative Risks

Key Statistics

• Unsafe abortions cause ~7 million hospitalizations/year globally, with infertility occurring in survivors of severe complications[2][6].
• Retained tissue in incomplete abortions increases sepsis mortality risk by 50x[6].
• 73% of septic abortion patients develop acute kidney failure, increasing infertility odds[6].

Conclusion

While safe, legal abortions (medical or surgical) pose minimal fertility risks[1][5], coat hanger methods drastically increase the likelihood of life-threatening infections and permanent reproductive harm. Timely medical care reduces these risks, but prevention through access to safe abortion services is critical[6][8].

Citations: [1] Can Abortion Cause Infertility? - Healthline https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/can-abortion-cause-infertility [2] Unsafe Abortion: Unnecessary Maternal Mortality - PMC https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2709326/ [3] Coat Hangers and Knitting Needles: A Brief History of Self-Induced ... https://nursingclio.org/2016/03/10/coat-hangers-and-knitting-needles-a-brief-history-of-self-induced-abortion/ [4] Unsafe abortion - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsafe_abortion [5] Can abortion affect your fertility? - 1800 My Options https://www.1800myoptions.org.au/blog/can-abortion-affect-your-fertility/ [6] Infectious Complications of Abortion - PMC - PubMed Central https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9683598/ [7] Complications of an abortion - NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/abortion/risks/ [8] The coat hanger abortion is back, and that's scary for all women | Vox https://www.vox.com/2015/12/23/10656860/coat-hanger-abortion-pregnancy-murder