Sepsis after an abortion is a serious infection affecting the uterus. It can develop during or after a pregnancy loss or abortion. A septic abortion is a medical emergency.

A person should seek emergency medical attention if they notice any signs of sepsis, such as rapid breathing, fever, and chills, after the end of a pregnancy.

A doctor will treat a septic abortion with antibiotics and remove any remaining pregnancy tissue.

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Sepsis after an abortion refers to a serious infection in the uterus that develops after a pregnancy loss, induced abortion, or incomplete abortion. Medical professionals call this a septic abortion.

The infection can develop during or shortly before or after the end of a pregnancy.

Without prompt treatment, sepsis can spreadTrusted Source throughout the body and quickly progress to septic shock.

Is it an emergency?

Doctors consider a septic abortion to be a medical emergency.

If a person notices any signs or symptoms of sepsis after an abortion or pregnancy loss, they should seek immediate medical attention.

Symptoms usually occur within 24 to 48 hours after the end of the pregnancy.

Symptoms of a septic abortion include:

A person may also experience severe stomach pain if their uterus becomes punctured during an in-clinic abortion.

If the infection becomes more severe, it can lead to septic shock, which can cause the following symptoms:

There are two types of abortion: an in-clinic abortion and the abortion pill. An abortion pill, or medication abortion, involves taking drugs to end a pregnancy. An in-clinic abortion, or surgical abortion, is a medical procedure that healthcare professionals perform.

Both medication abortions and in-clinic abortions are safe procedures. However, both carry a small risk of infection.

Septic abortions most commonly develop after an in-clinic abortion due to nonsterile tools and techniques or untrained clinicians.

A septic abortion can also develop due to an incomplete abortion or pregnancy loss. This means that pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus after the pregnancy ends and becomes infected.

The infection can develop due to one or more of the following types of bacteria:

  • Proteus vulgaris
  • Escherichia coli
  • Enterobacter aerogenes
  • staphylococci
  • hemolytic streptococci
  • anaerobic organisms, such as Clostridium perfringens

Home abortions

The Dobbs decision

On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that secured a person’s constitutional right to an abortion.

This means that individual states are now able to decide their own abortion laws. As a result, many states will ban or severely restrict abortion access.

The information in this article was accurate and up to date at the time of publication, but the facts may have changed since. Anyone looking to learn more about their legal rights can message the Repro Legal Helpline via a secure online form or call 844-868-2812.

A 2022 article notes that due to the changes in laws surrounding abortion in the United States, the rates of septic abortions are likely to increaseTrusted Source.

Due to a lack of healthcare access or personal barriers, people may attempt to end a pregnancy themselves, forgoing a sterile environment or a trained professional. This can lead to a septic abortion.

If a person requires an abortion in a state that has banned abortion or made it challenging to get one, it is legal to travel to another state where abortions are legal or more easily accessible.

A person can find safe spaces to receive the care they need using Planned Parenthood’s online tool or using the AbortionFinder’s website.

A healthcare professional can diagnose sepsis after an abortion based on:

  • a person’s symptoms
  • blood tests
  • ultrasonography
  • physical examination

If the doctor suspects an infection is present, they will send a blood sample for testing to find out which organism is causing the infection. This can determine which antibiotics will be most effective.

An ultrasonography can check for any fragments of pregnancy tissue.

As a septic abortion is a medical emergency, a doctor will immediately administer broad-spectrum antibiotics. If they have sent a blood sample for testing, they may adjust the type of antibiotic based on the results. A doctor will also removeTrusted Source any leftover pregnancy tissue.

A typical antibiotic regimen includes 900 milligrams (mg) of clindamycin every 8 hours. A doctor will administer this medication intravenously. They may also administer:

  • 5 mg per kilogram of gentamicin once a day
  • 2 grams of ampicillin every 4 hours

Authors of a 2022 article note that when an abortion takes place in a safe and medically supervised environment, it is extremely safeTrusted Source. However, the number of unsafe abortions will increase as a result of the changes to the laws surrounding abortion in the United States.

Prompt diagnosis and treatment are important in improving a person’s outlook. According to a 2022 article, septic abortion has a fatality rate of 0.4 to 0.6 per 100,000 pregnancy losses in the first trimester.

An infection can develop in the uterus after a pregnancy loss or abortion. This is called a septic abortion.

Doctors consider it to be a medical emergency, so people should seek immediate medical attention if they suspect they have an infection after the end of a pregnancy.

Symptoms include chills, fever, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, and vaginal discharge and bleeding. Severe stomach pain can also develop.

Prompt treatment is crucial. Doctors treat a septic abortion with antibiotics and remove any residual pregnancy tissue.