McCaffrey

June 30, 2013 Dear ProLife Colleague, In our May 17, 2013, letter we referenced a new article on the association between  abortion and subsequent increased risk for preterm and very preterm birth.  He highlights findings from 2 recent Systematic Review and Meta-analysis articles. For a look as an excellent new overview article by Dr. Martin McCaffrey MD, Pediatrician and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Pediatrician, go to: http://www.ncfpc.org/FNC/1305-FNC-Spring13-Abortion’sImpactOnPrematurity2.pdf We urge you to give it a careful reading.  Notice particularly 2 things: 1. The risk of prematurity increases, in a “dose effect”  with one or more induced abortions.   2.  Abortion is linked with increased risk of “preterm” birth, but it is linked with an even higher risk of “very preterm birth” –VPB- (<32 wks), the babies who have a much higher incidence of various morbidities than the 33 to 36 wk “preemies. There are currently 137 scientific articles reporting on the link between abortion and preterm birth in the subsequent pregnancy. Two well designed meta- analyses now demonstrate that just one prior abortion increases by 36% the risk for a future “preterm birth, and by 64% for a “very preterm” birth. Two or more abortions increases the risk for a future preterm birth by 93%. It is long overdue, based on the scientifically proven risk abortion poses for future preterm birth, that we educate sexually active women and men of the serous risk abortion poses for a woman’s babies born subsequent to her abortion. On of our retired MFM specialists commented: “I would like to commend to the members the excellent summary of the association of induced abortion and preterm birth by Dr. Marty McCaffrey.  It is one of the best treatments of this subject, especially his clear-cut explanation of the epidemiological factors involved in this matter.” The article contains 2 very helpful graphic demonstrations highlighting the  inordinate  shift of higher risk of VPTB for infants born subsequent to the mother having had an abortion. It is a travesty that this information is not disseminated by medical and other organizations dealing with reducing the incidence of preterm birth.