Objectives This study aimed to examine trends and factors associated with severe physical and psychological consequences following induced abortion among women in the Republic of Korea.
Methods An online survey was conducted of adolescent and adult Korean women aged 13 to 64 years, termed the 2022 Sex and Reproductive Health Survey. Respondents who reported a history of induced abortion were analyzed. Logistic regression models that accounted for individual risk factors were fitted to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aOR).
Results The prevalence of induced abortion was 20.1% (914 of 4,552 respondents). The most frequent indications for abortion were social reasons, and across all periods, approximately half of the women or more reported non-medical challenges at the time of their most recent abortion. Severe physical and psychological sequelae after abortion increased 5-fold from 1980–1992 to 2013–2022. Among those whose most recent abortion occurred in 2003 or later, the risk of severe psychological sequelae was higher in 2013–2022, after the Korean Constitutional Court upheld the existing criminal codes, than in 2003–2012 (aOR, 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–4.91).
Conclusion In the absence of institutionalized safe and respectful abortion services, severe physical and psychological sequelae among women who underwent induced abortion were more likely to occur. These findings highlight the importance of safe, affordable, nondiscriminatory, and respectful abortion care.
Objectives
<i>Mycoplasma genitalium</i> infections are suggested as causes of a number of pathological outcomes in pregnant women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of <i>M. genitalium</i> infections among pregnant women and its association with spontaneous abortion. Methods
In this case–control study we included 109 women with spontaneous abortion with a gestational age of 10–20 weeks (patients), and 109 women with normal pregnancy with a gestational age of 20–37 weeks (controls) in Sanandaj, Iran. Using specific primers and extracted DNA from endocervical swabs, a polymerase chain reaction was conducted for the detection of <i>M. genitalium</i> infection in both groups. Results
The frequency of <i>M. genitalium</i> infection in patient and control groups was one (0.91%) and three (2.75%), respectively. In both control and patient groups using Fisher test, no association between mycoplasma infection and spontaneous abortion was seen. Conclusion
<i>M. genitalium</i> may be positive in the genital tract of some pregnant women but was not associated with spontaneous abortion. Further powerful studies with larger sample sizes are needed for the determination of a possible role of <i>M. genitalium</i> in pregnancy outcomes and spontaneous abortion.
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