[Problem of causative relation between pregnancy interruption and following premature termination of pregnancy]

Abstract

On the basis of the case material of the Universitäts-Frauenklinik Jena, in a prospective investigation 524 women with an interruption in 1972 are investigated for subsequent premature births and abortions. In a second study we retrospectively analyzed the anamnestic data of 133 females whose pregnancies in 1974 ended with a premature birth. The results presented in tables are compared with suggestions from literature.

PIP: Prospective and retrospective studies of abortion and premature birth in women who had pregnancies interrupted are reported. In 524 women who had abortions in 1972, the incidence of prematurity was 5.3% (nulliparae, 7.7%), while the overall rate in 1972-1974 was 7.2%. In 133 women with premature deliveries in 1974 (of 2220 deliveries total), 6.7% had previously had abortions. The incidence of previous induced abortion was much higher in II- and III-parae (11.1 and 17.6%, respectively) than in primiparae (3.3%). Only 6.6% of primiparae, but 26.0% and 23.5% of II- and III-parae, respectively, had a history of previous miscarriage. In the authors' view, these findings indicate that pregnancies after interruption are not in serious danger of ending prematurely.