Abstract
Complications subsequent to 5 851 consecutively induced first-trimester abortions during the period 1980–85 were analysed. Three hundred and fifty-six abortions (6.1%) led to complications requiring hospital admission. According to bivariable analysis, women below 25 years of age, women with parity O, women with no spontaneous and with no induced abortions, and women in gestational week 8 had significantly higher postabortal complication rates than women 25 years of age and older (p<0.001), women with previous births (p<0.0001), women with spontaneous abortions (p<0.005), women with induced abortions (p<0.005), and women in other gestational age groups (p<0.0005). The mean stay in hospital per complicated abortion was 5.3 days. It was discussed whether the administration of prophylactic antibiotics to women with a history of pelvic inflammatory disease and young women completing their first pregnancy could reduce the complication rate.