Some of the physical risks that may accompany an abortion are listed below:

• Hemorrhage: Heavy bleeding during or a few days after an abortion. With a medical abortion (RU-486) bleeding lasts 13-15 days or more. Occasionally it is necessary to receive a transfusion to replace lost blood. Sometimes a second curettage procedure or a hysterectomy is needed to stop the bleeding.
• Infection: The uterus is susceptible to infection right after an abortion especially if part of the baby or placenta is accidentally left inside of you. Infections are even more of a risk if you have Chlamydia or Gonorrhea. Symptoms are pain and fever. This is generally treated with antibiotics but sometimes another curettage procedure must be used. If untreated, a very serious infection can develop and could result in infertility.
• Perforation: Sometimes the tools of abortion are accidentally pushed through the wall of the uterus during an abortion. If the instrument damages one of your internal organs, it may be necessary to do major surgery to repair the damage. This complication can cause extensive bleeding.
• Effects on Later Pregnancy: Injury to the cervix may cause the early loss of a later wanted pregnancy. Scarring, which blocks your fallopian tubes, may also occur. This can keep you from becoming pregnant in the future. The risk of miscarriage in later pregnancies is higher if a woman has had two or more abortions.
• Continued Pregnancy: The fetus may be growing in your fallopian tube rather than in your uterus. An abortion procedure would miss this. The continued growth of the fetus in your tube is dangerous and potentially fatal.
• Death: Death has occurred after abortion, although this is rare. When abortion is done after the first three months of pregnancy, the risk of death increases. The cause of death by abortion is usually from heavy bleeding or from complications with the drugs used for pain.

Excerpted from Making an Informed Decision About Pregnancy