Restricted Access To Abortion

Because of ignorance, denial, fear of social disapproval, fear of abortion, and/or restricted access to abortion services, adolescents are more likely to seek abortion later in their pregnancy than are adult women. This, alone, increases their risk of serious complications. In addition, the younger the adolescent, the more likely her abortion will be self-induced or that the provider will not be medically trained. Consequently, in comparison with older women, younger women are more likely to experience septicemia, hemorrhaging, and damage to reproductive organs (Population Reference
Bureau and the Center for Population Options, 1994). Finally, if additional postabortion medical attention is needed, adolescents often take longer to obtain this