(July 16, 2021) — Rapid repeat pregnancies are common after abortion of a first pregnancy, according to a new study of over two million young women. This finding is consistent with data showing that 29% of women undergoing an abortion have a strong desire for a “replacement pregnancy.” But since the same pressures to abort may persist, approximately 60% of pregnancies conceived in the two years following a first abortion are also aborted.

Examining data from every state that includes abortion coverage for Medicaid patients, researchers found that among young women who aborted a first pregnancy, 22.6% and 34.5% conceived a second pregnancy within one year and two years of their abortions, respectively. These rapid repeat pregnancy rates were significantly higher than those for women experiencing a miscarriage or other natural loss, among whom 17.8% and 25.6% conceived again within one and two years, respectively.

“These findings highlight a national crisis related to unwanted abortions,” said David Reardon, director of the Elliot Institute and the lead author of the study.

According to a recent survey of women at abortion clinics, only a minority of aborting women (42%) described their pregnancies as unwanted. Another previous study found that 64% of American women who reported having an abortion felt pressured to do so by others.

Given these findings, Reardon believes the majority of abortion are for (from the pregnant women’s point of view) for a wanted or mistimed pregnancies that would have been welcomed if the women had been receiving the support and encouragement from loved ones that they needed.

“These unwanted abortions lead to a desire for replacement pregnancies and therefore the high rate of rapid repeat pregnancies revealed in this new study,” said Reardon. “But unfortunately, the pressures that led to the first abortion remain, or may even be intensified, which is why we also see such a high rate of rapid repeat abortions within one or two years of each other.” Read more...

References

Reardon DC, Craver C. Intervals and Outcomes of First and Second Pregnancies in Low-Income Women: A Record-Linkage Longitudinal Prospective Cohort Study. Medical Science Monitor. 2021; 27: e931596-1–e931596-11.