 Speaking in a medical manner what an abortion involves is opening and dilating of the cervix to empty the uterus by suction. Naturally this process requires connection of the vagina to the uterus and therein lies the critical part. The vagina and chiefly the mouth of vagina could be carrying a number of bacteria. That’s why the surgeon must be careful to clean the vagina very well because as the uterus is connected to the vagina during the process, there are high chances of the bacteria traveling to the uterus and the fallopian tubes, causing undetected damage such as blockage of the tubes.
One more reason why you must go to a qualified surgeon is the chance of scraping too little or too much. If the uterus is scraped too little for fear of damage to the uterus wall, particles of the embryo may stay in there and you may need a second or third Dilation and Curettage. If this were to occur, then besides the fact that you would continue to bleed heavily for several days after the abortion and experience discomfort, you would have remained open. Conversely, if the scrapes too much, it might injure the uterus walls. They may not cure and instead stick together-causing infertility, which you would recognize of only at a later period when you attempt at conception and face failure. The condition known as Asherman's Syndrome and while it can be treated in a minor case, it may be so severe that it cannot be treated at all. The doctor says that such complications happen only in one in a thousand cases-but after all, you don't want to be part of the lower statistic. What is encouraging is that the number of infections due to abortion has gone down considerably in the last few years, as surgeons now guarantee that a good antibiotic is pushed into the uterus before the abortion is undertaken.
The other problem linked to an abortion is perforation. The matter is that the surgeon may perforate the uterus and pull the intestines or other vital organs, thinking they are part of the embryo. If noticed in time, the patient has a chance or else, in a bad case this could be fatal as well. And there is also the likelihood that the uterus is injured so poorly that it has to be detached all together. Sure, small perforations are quite common during an abortion but these heal by themselves. Altogether, an abortion is a five to ten minute procedure and can even be undertaken under local anaesthesia but for the last, the patient has to be adequately motivated and co-operative. Local anaesthesia may be sensible for women who has been through a pregnancy and knows the operational ropes such as legs being put up on stirrups etc. The cervix is also easily dilated the second time around so a local anaesthesia works as well.
| 
