The relationship of placenta previa and history of induced abortion

Objectives: We evaluated the risk of placenta previa being associated with a history of induced abortion by different surgical procedures. Methods: Cases (n = 192) were women who had a singleton delivery complicated by placenta previa at a major obstetric care hospital in western Washington state between April 1, 1990 and December 31, 1992. Controls (n=622) were women with singleton deliveries not complicated by placenta previa or abruption. Odds ratios, determined by logistic regression, approximate the relative risks. Results: Vacuum aspiration abortion was not associated with an increased risk of placenta previa (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.6-1.5). However, the risk of placenta previa increased with the number of sharp curettage abortions (OR 2.9, 95% Cl 1.0-8.5 for greater than or equal to3). Conclusions: Risk of placenta previa may be increased in a dose response fashion by multiple sharp curettage abortions. However, vacuum aspiration does not confer an increased risk, and may be a better alternative. (C) 2003 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.