Can a gynecologist tell if a woman has had an abortion in the past if s/he examines her ?

Anon, I took your email address out of your question because I don't want spammers or others to take advantage of it.

Here's the answer to your question, according to Redbook magazine's "answers to your most intimate questions":

"Not unless you have excessive scarring as a result (and that's unusual). Since these things can affect your mental and physical health, however, it's important to let your doctor know about all your past medical problems and procedures, says Dr. Lauri Romanzi, a urogynecologist at Cornell University-New York Presbyterian Hospital.

"If you come in with an infertility problem or pelvic pain -- either of which can be related to miscarriage, an STD or complications from an abortion -- your doctor will be better able to diagnose and treat you if she knows about your health history," Dr. Romanzi says. If you're concerned about confidentiality, ask your doctor not to write out this information explicitly in your medical records.