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Does abortion cause weight gain? Here’s what to know

By Musa Adekunle

03 October 2024   |   2:49 pm

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Recently, there's been a buzz on social media, especially on X (formerly Twitter), where some people, mostly men, claim that women get pregnant just to gain weight and then abort the baby. But is this really true? The conversation online suggests that some unexplained weight gain in women might be caused by abortions. But does…

Recently, there’s been a buzz on social media, especially on X (formerly Twitter), where some people, mostly men, claim that women get pregnant just to gain weight and then abort the baby. But is this really true?

The conversation online suggests that some unexplained weight gain in women might be caused by abortions. But does having an abortion actually lead to weight gain?
An internal medicine physician, Dr. Olushina Ajidahun, better known as The-Bearded-Dr-Shina, shared his thoughts on the matter.

READ ALSO: Delta to prosecute doctors who give abortion pills to underage girl

He said, “Pregnancy is a very important period that comes with a lot of changes. A lot of hormones are also deployed, which can contribute to weight gain, fluid retention, and other biochemical changes that can make a woman gain weight—not just in the breasts but overall.”

He went on to address whether people might intentionally get pregnant and then terminate it just to gain weight. “As a medical practitioner, I’ve never come across this practice of abortion for such purposes. People need to understand that abortion isn’t as simple as just removing the foetus. It comes with a lot of physiological and psychological effects.”

Ajidahun also said that some women undergo post-abortion counselling due to the after-effects. “So, I don’t think anyone would put themselves through pregnancy and abortion just to gain weight when there are plenty of other ways to do so.”

When asked about the “pregnancy glow” that many people talk about, he explained, “Pregnancy, as mentioned earlier, comes with changes. Some hormonal shifts can increase pigmentation (like Chloasma or Melasma), and the higher production of oil (sebum) can also lead to changes that are often referred to as the ‘glow.’”

On whether getting pregnant can cause weight gain, he answered, “Yes, it can. But whether people purposely get pregnant and then abort for that reason—I cannot confirm or deny that. Should it be condoned? No. Abortion has its own consequences and should never be used as a tool for weight gain.”

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) states that 45% of abortions are unsafe.

“Unsafe abortion is an important preventable cause of maternal deaths and morbidities. It can lead to physical and mental health complications and social and financial burdens for women, communities, and health systems,” the global health body stated.