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Introduction: Fear of childbirth (FOC) is a common obstetrical challenge that complicates about every 10th pregnancy. Background factors of FOC are diverse. We evaluated the association of induced abortion (IA) and FOC in subsequent pregnancy. Material and methods: Population‐based register study based on three Finnish national registers: the Register of Induced Abortions, the Medical Birth Register and the Hospital Discharge Register. The study cases were primigravid women undergoing an IA in 2000–2015 and subsequent pregnancy ending in live singleton birth up to 2017. Each case had three controls, matched by age and residential area, whose first pregnancy ended in a live birth. The main outcome was the incidence of FOC in the subsequent pregnancy. In a secondary analysis, we assessed other risk factors for FOC. Results: The study cohort consisted of 21 455 women and 63 425 controls. Altogether, 4.2% of women had a diagnosis of FOC. The incidence was higher in women with a history of IA than in controls (5.6% vs 3.7%, P < 0.001). A history of IA was associated with higher odds for FOC: adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.20 with 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11–1.30. In addition, a history of psychiatric diagnosis (aOR 3.48, 95% CI 3.15–3.83), high maternal age, 30–39 years old (aOR 1.55, 95% CI 1.43–1.67; P < 0.001) and ≥40 years old (aOR 3.00, 95% CI 2.37–3.77; P < 0.001) and smoking (aOR 1.20, 95% CI 1.11–1.31; P < 0.001) were associated with increased odds for FOC. Women living in densely populated or rural areas and those with lower socioeconomic class had lower odds for FOC. Conclusions: A history of IA is associated with increased odds for FOC in subsequent pregnancy. However, the associations of FOC with a history of psychiatric diagnosis and elevated maternal age (especially ≥40 years old) are more pronounced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Women undergoing an induced abortion are highly fertile and at risk of subsequent unplanned pregnancy. We recently completed a randomized clinical trial showing that routine provision of intrauterine device (IUD) at the time of abortion significantly reduced the risk of subsequent abortion during a 5‐year follow up. As the use of highly effective contraception may affect all subsequent pregnancies, we analyzed the rate and distribution of all subsequent pregnancies (deliveries, miscarriages, and abortions), and the risk factors for these various pregnancy outcomes in the above‐mentioned randomized clinical trial. Material and methods: We enrolled adult women requesting first‐trimester induced abortion and candidates for IUD for post‐abortion contraception. Women (n = 751) were randomized to receive an IUD (either levonorgestrel‐releasing IUD or copper IUD) by the clinic responsible for abortion care vs. routine care of IUD provision in primary health care with oral contraceptives for interval contraception. In the present secondary analysis, we identified all deliveries, miscarriages, and abortions in the intervention (n = 375) and control (n = 373) cohorts during the 5‐year follow up using the Finnish national registries. The trial is registered at Clinical Trials (NTC01223521). Results: The overall delivery, miscarriage, and abortion rates were 42.0, 12.0 and 32.1/1000 years of follow up (yFU). Any new pregnancy occurred in 98 women in the intervention and in 129 women in the control cohort (hazard ratio 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.56–0.95, p = 0.023). The effect of routine IUD provision in reducing pregnancies was limited to the first 2 yFU. The number of subsequent induced abortions and of women undergoing it were significantly reduced, and time to abortion was prolonged by the intervention. However, the overall number, the number of women with subsequent delivery or miscarriage, and the times to these events were not significantly affected. History of previous pregnancy (delivery or abortion) and smoking were risk factors for subsequent induced abortion, but not for delivery or miscarriage. Conclusions: Routine provision of IUD as part of abortion care did not reduce the rates of delivery or miscarriage during the 5‐year follow up. The rates of all pregnancies and the need of subsequent induced abortion were reduced by IUD provision during the first 2 yFU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]