Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) pose a serious risk to a woman’s future reproductive and overall health, especially if left untreated. According to the Centers for Disease Control, in the United States, 1 out of 5 women between the ages of 14 and 19 is infected with at least one STD.  It is important that you get tested for Sexually Transmitted Diseases if you are considering abortion and if you suspect you have been exposed. The earlier you can be treated for an STD the better.

Any abortion procedure (including medical abortion) opens the risk of transmitting bacteria from outside the woman’s body or from the vagina into the woman’s cervix. Women who have an untreated STD are up to 23% more likely to develop Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) following an abortion procedure. 

It’s important to remember that not all STDs produce noticeable symptoms; therefore, it’s recommended that you get tested for STDs regularly if you are sexually active with new or multiple partners.