Abortion and Miscarriage: No Causal Link

There is no scientific evidence that prior induced abortion increases the risk of subsequent miscarriage. Large, well-designed studies (including a 2016 JAMA study of 1.5 million women) show no association after controlling for age, parity, and confounders.

Miscarriage risk factors include:

• Advanced maternal age.
• Chromosomal abnormalities (most common cause).
• Uterine anomalies, endocrine disorders (thyroid, PCOS, diabetes).
• Thrombophilias, autoimmune conditions.
• Lifestyle: smoking, alcohol, high caffeine.

Abortion (medication or procedural) is safe when performed by trained providers. Complications (infection, cervical injury, Asherman's syndrome) are rare and could affect future pregnancy, but the abortion itself does not cause miscarriage.