October 2009 Summary
Induced Abortion and Increased Risk of Preterm Birth
Before the October 2009 SHAH-BJOG meta-analysis the abortion/pretermbirth risk was settled science affirming HIGHER risk after abortion. SHAH-BJOG study confirms once again this increased risk. In the past 6 months, there are 3 systematic abortion/premature birth studies, with all 3 validating the abortion/premature birth risk:
• Swingle HM, Colaizy TT, Zimmerman MB, Moriss FH. Abortion and the Risk of Subsequent Preterm Birth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Reproductive Medicine 2009;54:95-108
• Shah P. et al. Induced termination of pregnancy and low birth weight and preterm birth: a systematic review and meta-analysis BJOG 2009;116(11):1425-1442. URL: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122591273/abstract
• van Oppenraaij RHF, Jauniaux E, Christiansen OB, Horcajadas JA, Farquharson RG, et al. Predicting adverse obstetric outcome after early pregnancy events and complications: a review. Human Reproduction Update Advance Access 7 March 2009;1(1):1-13
Two are abortion/premature birth meta-analyses (Shah, Swingle), with both validating the abortion/premature birth risk. One meta-analysis computed the Abortion-Very-Preterm birth risk, and reported an odds ratio of statistically significant 64% higher risk of Very PreTerm Birth (<32 wks) for women with a prior induced abortion. (Swingle). It is very important to note: Very Preterm Birth (<32 wks) babies comprise a majority of neonatal deaths and severe disabilities among the preterm population.