Rapid Repeat Pregnancy

A number of studies have found abortion to be associated with rapid repeat pregnancy, women becoming pregnant within a year, often to replace the aborted child with a new child. This may be an underlying factor in higher rates of premature delivery following a rapid repeat pregnancy as indicated in Preterm Birth: Causes, Consequences, and Prevention (2007) Board on Health Sciences Policy (HSP)

Short Interpregnancy Interval and Preterm Birth

Interpregnancy interval is defined as that interval between the termination of one pregnancy and the conception of another. Numerous investigators have found a univariate association between short interpregnancy interval and a number of adverse perinatal outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth (Adams et al., 1997; Al-Jasmi et al., 2002; Basso et al., 1998; Blackmore-Prince et al., 2000; Brody and Bracken, 1987; Conde-Agudelo et al., 2005; Dafopoulos et al., 2002; Ekwo and Moawad, 1998; Erickson and Bjerkedal, 1978; Ferraz et al., 1988; Fuentes-Afflick and Hessol, 2000; Hsieh et al., 2005; Kallan, 1992, 1997; Klebanoff, 1988; Lang et al., 1990; Miller, 1994; Rawlings et al., 1995; Shults et al., 1999; Smith et al., 2003; Zhu and Le, 2003; Zhu et al., 2001). These published reports did not distinguish spontaneous from indicated preterm birth, however. The definition of short interpregnancy interval varies widely across studies; the most common definition is less than or equal to 6 months.

Contraceptive discontinuation and repeat unintended pregnancy within 1 year after an abortion. Upadhyay UD, Brown BA, Sokoloff A, Raine TR.Contraception. 2012 Jan;85(1):56-62. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2011.05.009. Epub 2011 Jun 30.

Women who had a recent abortion or previous abortion were 60% more likely to have another pregnancy during the next 12 months than women who never had an abortion (AHR=1.63, 95% CI =1.21-2.20, and AHR=1.66, 95% CI=1.18-2.33, respectively).

"Conception rates after abortion with methotrexate and misoprostol," MD Creinin, Int'l J Gynaecol Obstet 65: 183-188, 1999.

25% of women who had abortions using methotrexate and misoprostol became pregnant again within the next 12 months. The vast majority of these pregnancies resulted in another induced abortion.

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Söderberg H. Urban Women applying for induced abortion. Studies of epidemiology, attitudes, and emotional reactions. Malmö, 1998. Doctoral Disseration. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Community Medicine, Lund University, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.

• 18.9 percent of the 1,277 women who had abortions (n=242) became pregnant again within 12 months of their abortions. About half carried to term and the rest had another abortion. Women who refused to participate in the followup interview were significantly more likely to carry the subsequent pregnancy to term. (p 24)