What To Expect From Your First Period After An Abortion
You should get your period back within 4 to 8 weeks after an abortion.
When it returns, you may experience stronger PMS symptoms than usual. These symptoms can include:
The changes to your bleeding during this first period will depend on which type of abortion you had:
- Medical abortion. A medical abortion involves taking mifepristone and misoprostol medications. After this procedure, you may have a heavier and longer period than youve had in the past. You might also see small blood clots.
- Surgical abortion. A surgical abortion is an outpatient procedure performed by a doctor. You may have a lighter and shorter first period after this type of abortion.
Avoid using any inserted period products for at least 2 weeks after your abortion. Opt for pads instead to give your body time to heal.
Unexpected Or Unusual Symptoms After An Abortion
VIDEO: Unusual or unexpected symptoms after abortion
Telephone 999 for an ambulance if you have experienced any of the following in the last 24 hours after your treatment:
- loss of consciousness
- concern for a heart attack or stroke
- A general feeling of being unwell or still feeling pregnant
- continuous and heavy bleeding that soaks 2 or more maxi-size pads in an hour for 2 hours in a row
- You performed a pregnancy test 3 weeks after your abortion pill treatment under 10 weeks and the test was positive, invalid or you were not sure of the result
The after care line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
BPAS after-care service cannot support patients who were not treated in our clinics. If you were treated by MSI or NUPAS, you should contact them direct for aftercare. If you are an Irish client who has purchased pills online from ‘Women help women’ or ‘Women on the web’ BPAS runs a free confidential helpline on 1800 910 049 and 0800 0776049 .
Can You Get Pregnant After Abortion
Yes. You can get pregnant after having an abortion. This is true for both surgical and medical abortions.
If you have recently had an abortion and would like to prevent future pregnancies, know that you can still get pregnant immediately following the procedure. Therefore, its important to make sure to use protection the next time you have sex.
If you have had an abortion recently but still want to conceive sometime in the future, know that an abortion will not impact your chances of having a normal pregnancy at another point in your life.
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How Soon Do You Ovulate After An Abortion
There is no standard amount of time that you can expect to ovulate after an abortion. Everyones body is different, and some menstrual cycles can last only 21 days while others last as long as 40 days.
Assuming that your cycle begins the day after your abortion, you can expect ovulation to occur within the next 2-3 weeks. One study found that on average, ovulation returned approximately 3 weeks following a medical abortion with the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol.
If you are further along in your pregnancy and require a surgical abortion , it may take a few weeks longer to ovulate. This is because pregnancy hormones may remain in your body for a few weeks following your procedure and prolong the start of your menstrual cycle.
When Will Your Periods Come Back
If you typically have regular, predictable monthly periods, your next period will likely start within 4 to 7 weeks post-abortion. However, its OK if it takes slightly longer to return, especially if your periods can be irregular.
Still, you may want to consider scheduling a follow-up if your period hasnt come back after eight weeks, just to be safe.
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When Can You Have Your First Period After A Suction Abortion
Just like with medical abortion completion, your menstruation cycle gets normal. However, medical abortion may take time to complete. Whereas, suction abortion is complete within the clinic itself. Therefore, you can expect a normal period somewhere between 5-8 weeks post-abortion.
Some women may have it as early as after 4 weeks. However, each womans experience with abortion is different.
Speaking of the duration of your first period after the suction period, it may be small in comparison with your cycle before having an abortion. This is because most of the uterine lining and tissue has already been removed.
Also, some blood clots may be smaller for the same reason. From the second period onwards, you can have a regular menstrual cycle.
It is normal for many women to have their periods delayed. However, it is essential to rule out another pregnancy if you miss a period on your due date.
What Symptoms Are Common After An Abortion
Cramping and vaginal bleeding are common side effects of both surgical and medical abortions.
You may bleed for up to 4 weeks after your procedure. The amount of bleeding will vary from person to person. The flow can range from light to heavy. After a medical abortion, you may have bleeding thatâs much heavier than your normal period.
You may notice more blood when you exercise and less when you rest. Small blood clots that are red to dark purple are normal. As your bleeding slows, it might look like a yellow or brown discharge. It can have a sour odor.
Cramps. Cramps usually last a few days. You can take up to 800 milligrams of ibuprofen every 6 hours or up to 1,000 mg of acetaminophen every 4 hours to relieve the discomfort. A heating pad or hot water bottle placed on your tummy may help ease the pain. Rest can help, too. You might also get relief with essential oils, deep breathing, or self-massage around your stomach, back, and hips.
Nausea or vomiting. These symptoms usually go away within a few days. In the meantime, you can sometimes ease nausea by drinking ginger ale or peppermint or chamomile tea. Or chew a piece of candied ginger.
Breast symptoms. Your breasts might feel tender for up to 10 days after your procedure. Wear a bra with good support, and take over-the-counter pain relievers if you need them. It may also help to put ice packs on your breasts. Your breasts may also leak fluid, but they should return to their normal state after about 4 days.
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Do You Provide Birth Control Pills After My Abortion
When you come back for a follow up visit, we will discuss different birth control options. We will give you samples of birth control pills on the day of your appointment. You can start taking them right away.
Do you offer a payment plan?
We regret that we are unable to provide payment plans. Payment is expected in full at the time of your procedure appointment. We accept cash and all major credit cards, but no personal checks.
Last Updated on March 4, 2020 by G
4801 W Peterson Ave #609, Chicago, IL 60646, USA | Call Us: 773.725.4232
Will My Insurance Cover This/what Does It Cost
Many insurance plans, including all forms of Medi-Cal, cover abortion services. If your plan does not cover abortion, or you do not want to use your insurance, contact our office for a quote.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or health care provider. We encourage you to discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.
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Does Abortion Cause Irregular Periods
Various forms of birth control methods used can affect the regularity of periods after an abortion. If a female typically has irregular periods, she may continue to experience these after having an abortion.
An abortion can lead to emotional and physical stress, which can also affect a females menstrual cycle. Stress is a major influencing factor that can have an impact on the regularity of periods after abortion.
If a female starts experiencing irregular periods after an abortion but had a normal regular menstrual cycle before that, gynecological consultation becomes necessary.
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What Complications Can Occur After An Abortion
Studies show abortions are safe, even safer than childbirth. Though major complications are rare, they can happen. Some include:
- Infection: Thereâs a small risk of infection after both a surgical and medical abortion. Your doctor might give you antibiotics to reduce this risk if you had a procedure. To lessen your chances of infection, itâs safest to avoid baths, swimming, douching, and sex while you recover. Your doctor can tell you when itâs OK to resume these activities.
- Incomplete abortion: This happens when the pregnancy isnât completely removed. Itâs more likely to happen after a medical abortion than a surgical one. Youâll need to have a procedure to complete the abortion.
- Hemorrhage: While some bleeding is normal, very heavy bleeding can be dangerous.
- Injury to organs: You can get an injury to your uterus , bowel, or bladder during a surgical abortion. In rare cases, your uterus or cervix can tear. This is more likely to happen in later-term abortions.
Research shows that, in most cases, an abortion wonât increase your risk for future health conditions, such as infertility, breast cancer, or depression.
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When The Menstrual Periods Will Return To Normal After An Abortion
Whether it was a surgical or medical abortion, the first normal menstrual period usually starts within four to eight weeks after the abortion procedure. Menstrual periods can start even earlier in cases when the pregnancy was terminated very early, within the first few weeks. Usually, the first menstrual period following the abortion is heavier. However, some women reported lighter menstrual periods following abortion than their normal menstrual periods. It is also normal to have irregular menstrual periods for a certain amount of time after terminating a pregnancy.
A change that can happen to your period is the flow. If you had a surgical abortion, it could result in a lighter period than normal, and with a medical abortion, it could be heavier than normal. You might also find that you have more PMS and other symptoms such as back pain and cramping for the first few cycles. This is normal and should eventually even out to what you experienced before.
The body and especially the hormonal levels require some time until they get back to normal and start functioning, as they should. Women who usually have irregular menstrual cycles sometimes need up to 12 weeks for their menstrual periods to start.
Normal Bleeding After Abortion Procedure
However, it is also considered normal not to bleed at all after a surgical abortion procedure, as well as bleeding on and off for a period of time up to six weeks after this surgical procedure.
In cases of medical abortions, the bleeding is usually more severe when compared to surgical abortion. During this bleeding, the gestational sac will get detached from the uterus and be expelled with the bleeding. Dont get afraid if you notice tissue, it is something that is considered normal. The heavy bleeding should last only a day or two. However, it is normal to experience a certain amount of bleeding for about two weeks after medical abortion procedure. It is also normal to experience abdominal cramps, especially in cases of medical abortion procedure. Ovulation can return in the first cycle following an abortion, so becoming pregnant again right away is possible, even before the return of menstruation.
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What Happens After My Abortion
Right after your abortion, youll rest in a recovery room for up to around an hour. If you had any kind of sedation, you should have someone else help you get home safely. Plan on taking it easy for the rest of the day.
You can go back to work, school, driving, exercise, and most other normal activities the next day if you feel up to it. You can have sex as soon as you feel ready.
Its normal to have some bleeding after an abortion. You can use pads, tampons, or a menstrual cup whatever’s the most comfortable for you. But your nurse or doctor may recommend you use pads so you can track how much you’re bleeding. You may have spotting for several weeks. And some people dont bleed at all. All of this is normal.
Youll get written information about what to expect and how to take care of yourself after your abortion. Youll get a phone number you can call with any questions or concerns — were here to help 24/7 after your abortion.
Its important to take all of your antibiotics, no matter how you feel. Your doctor or nurse may want you to come back for a follow-up appointment in 2-4 weeks.
Most people dont have any problems after their abortion, and recovery is usually quick and easy. But call your doctor right away if you:
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soak 2 maxi pads per hour for 2 hours
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have belly pain or cramps that dont get better with pain medication
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have a fever of 100.4° F or higher
When To Contact A Doctor
Seek immediate medical attention if:
- You soak through 2 or more sanitary pads per hour for more than 2 hours in a row.
- You pass a blood clot thats larger than a lemon.
- You have severe pain in your belly or back.
- The medications your doctor prescribed arent managing your pain.
- You have a fever over 100.4°F .
- You have chills.
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When To Seek Medical Attention
Although all abortions, medical or surgical are safe and effective, some women may experience unexpected outcomes. And it is essential to seek medical help in such events. So, here are a few outcomes after an abortion in which you should consult your doctor at the earliest. Some outcomes vary with the abortion method while some others are common for any kind of abortion procedure.
Get In Touch To Know More
You can always contact us on the numbers below if you have any doubts or would like to ask any questions. We also have a live chat available on our website, where you can talk to an advisor.
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England, Scotland and Wales: 0345 300 8090
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Northern Ireland: 0333 234 2184
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Republic of Ireland: 1 800 849 091
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International: +44 1454 457 542
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Why Might People Feel Bad After An Abortion
Certain risk factors may increase the likelihood of a person having negative feelings after an abortion, such as:
- Wanting the pregnancy: People who want a baby, but have to terminate for other reasons, are more likely to experience regret or sadness.
- Reactions from others: If family or a partner pressures someone into getting an abortion, this will add to any emotional distress. Conversely, condemning or disowning someone for getting an abortion can also create guilt and shame.
- Anti-choice protests: People who campaign against abortion access sometimes protest outside abortion clinics and harass people who undergo the procedure. This encourages people to feel guilty about their decision.
- Social isolation: In the 2018 study of Irish women, stigma-related social isolation was a key predictor of negative feelings after an abortion. Feeling shame about the decision can mean people keep it a secret and do not get any support from friends or family.
- Neglect or abuse: A 2018 summary of the Turnaway Studys key findings notes that a history of neglect or abuse during childhood increased the risk of depression in people who accessed abortion.
- Pre-existing mental health conditions: People with a history of anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions may be more likely to experience negative emotions after an abortion.
What To Expect For The Second Period
The second period after an abortion is likely to return to how an individuals periods were before.
That said, some people may find that it takes two or three cycles for their periods to regulate. If this does not happen, they should speak with their doctor.
People can start using birth control straight after an abortion. If they want to use an intrauterine device , they can ask a healthcare professional to fit one during the same appointment as the abortion.
IUDs are an effective form of birth control. Both hormone-free copper IUDs and hormonal-plastic IUDs are available.
The advantage of copper IUDs is that they do not affect mood but may cause heavier periods.
Hormonal IUDs may lighten periods, but as with all hormonal contraception, they may affect mood.
Condoms offer a reliable hormone-free contraception method that does not require surgery.
Which contraception method to use is a personal choice, and different options work for different people.
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When Will You Get Your Next Period After An Abortion
Most women get their period about four to eight weeks after an abortion. After a surgical abortion, your first period may be somewhat lighter and shorter than usual. This is because the abortion procedure empties the uterus, so there is less tissue to expel during the following period. After a medical abortion, your next period may be heavier than usual due to the hormones used in the procedure. After two to three menstrual cycles, you should find that your period returns to normal.
Urgent Advice: Talk To Your Gp Or Doctor Immediately If
you experience any signs of a possible problem, such as:
- severe pain that can’t be controlled with painkillers such as ibuprofen
- continuous and heavy bleeding that soaks 2 or more pads in an hour for 2 hours in a row
- abdominal pain or discomfort that is not helped by medication, rest, a hot water bottle, or a heat pad
- a high temperature of 38°C or higher
- signs or a feeling that you are still pregnant, such as nausea and sore breasts
- no bleeding 24 hours after using all of the second medication you’ve been given, if you have had a medical abortion
You can also call the My Options support service on freephone . Nurses are available 24/7 to take calls and give medical advice. They can tell you what to do if you have any of these symptoms.
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