Observations on patients two years after legal abortion,

The patients who underwent legal abortions in 1971 were invited to a follow-up examination 2 years later. 25% of the 562 patients invited came to be examined. Anamnestic data were obtained on 60%. Early complications had occurred in 10% of the cases. During the 2-year period which had elapsed, the 338 patients had had 73 new pregnancies (22%), of which 60% had terminated in delivery. No spontaneous abortions in the second trimester had occurred in the new pregnancies. 15% of the patients had resorted to repeated legal abortion. 44% of the patients were using oral contraceptives or IUCD 2 years after the abortion. A gynecological examination gave rise to a suspicion of cervical insufficiency in 10% of the cases examined. Hysterosalpingography suggested tubal pathology in 18%. In laparoscopy no occurrences of bilateral tubal occlusion were found. The need of new follow-up examination later is obvious.