Young age and termination of pregnancy during the second trimester are risk factors for repeat second-trimester abortion.

Abstract

The objective of the study was to characterize women undergoing a termination of pregnancy (TOP) during the second trimester and to evaluate the risk factors and timing of repeat TOP. This nationwide retrospective cohort study investigated 41,750 women who underwent TOP during the first (n = 39,850) or second (n = 1900) trimester in Finland in 2000-2005. The follow-up time was until repeat TOP or until Dec. 31, 2006. TOP during the second trimester increases the risk of repeat TOP (hazard ratio [HR], 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-1.6), repeat second-trimester TOP (HR, 3.8; 95% CI, 2.9-5.1), and repeat TOP after 16 weeks of gestation (HR, 5.0; 95% CI, 3.3-7.7). The other risk factor for these is young age (HR, 7.0, 95% CI, 5.3-9.3; and HR, 12.5; 95% CI, 3.1-50.4 for age <20 years). Second-trimester TOP and young age are risk factors for repeat second-trimester TOP. Special focus on these women might be effective in decreasing repeat abortions.