How Does An Abortion Impact Ovulation
Abortions do not typically have any impact on ovulation or fertility.
Its important to bear in mind that prior to an abortion, ovulation will have stopped due to pregnancy. However, after an abortion, your body will restart its menstrual cycle. This means that you can expect to ovulate and have your period in the weeks following an abortion.
How To Get An Abortion
Abortions can only be carried out under the care of an NHS hospital or a licensed clinic, and are usually available free of charge on the NHS.
There are 3 main ways to get an abortion on the NHS:
- you can self-refer by contacting an abortion provider directly the British Pregnancy Advisory Service , MSI Reproductive Choices UK, the National Unplanned Pregnancy Advisory Service or your local NHS sexual health website can tell you about eligibility and services in your area
- speak to a GP and ask for a referral to an abortion service the GP should refer you to another doctor if he or she has any objections to abortion
- contact asexual health clinic clinics) and ask for a referral to an abortion service
Waiting times can vary, but you should not have to wait more than 2 weeks from when you first contact an abortion provider to having an abortion.
You can also pay for an abortion privately if you prefer. Costs for private abortions vary depending on the stage of pregnancy and the method used to carry out the procedure.
If Youre More Than 24 Weeks Pregnant
After 24 weeks of pregnancy, you can only get a D& E procedure or induction abortion.
Oftentimes, doctors will only recommend an induction abortion if you cant get a D& E. That said, this is done on a case-by-case basis. If you prefer to have an induction abortion, which allows the fetus to be delivered intact, talk with your healthcare professional.
Other reasons for getting an induction abortion include:
- which procedures are available at the medical facility
- the gestational age of the pregnancy
- your individual medical history
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When Can I Get Pregnant After An Abortion
Your fertility will return to normal right away after an abortion. You could get pregnant again within just a few weeks, so youll need to use contraception. Your menstrual cycle will usually start immediately, although there may be a slight delay if you had a later abortion as it can take a few weeks for your hormones to return to normal. Most women will ovulate about 14 days after an abortion. However, it could happen even sooner if you have a short or irregular cycle, so its important to use protection right away.
If youre visiting the 132 Healthwise clinic in London to discuss abortion then its a good idea to ask the doctor for contraception advice too. You can get help choosing the right type of contraception to prevent any more unplanned pregnancies. The doctor can also fit you with a hormonal or copper coil at the same time as the abortion. A coil can provide long-lasting and reliable protection, so it can be a good choice if other kinds of contraception have let you down.
You May Feel Emotional
Its typical to feel a range of emotions after an abortion. You may experience relief, sadness, or grief. Be kind to yourself as you process these emotions, and reach out to others if you need support.
Abortions arent linked to an increased risk of developing mental health issues, but its important to get the help you need if youre experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety. Lots of free or inexpensive resources are available.
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Make Sure Youre Ovulating Regularly
The most efficient way to get pregnant is by tracking ovulation and planning sex accordingly. This is especially true if you have recently had an abortion, due to the fact that it may take a few weeks or months for your cycle and ovulation patterns to return to normal.
There are several ways that you can monitor ovulation over time in order to get to know your cycle better. A few of the most common methods include:
- The Calendar Method where you simply track the dates of your period over time in order to calculate your day of ovulation .
- The Basal Body Temperature Method where you take your temperature at the same time each morning in order to detect the 0.5°F increase in temperature that typically happens 12 hours after ovulation.
- Ovulation Predictor Kits where you take an at-home test that is similar to a pregnancy test, but instead of testing for the pregnancy hormone hCG, it tests for luteinizing hormone which surges right before ovulation.
- Comprehensive Hormone Tracking where you use a hormone tracking system like Mira to accurately monitor your individual cycle and predict ovulation.
It may take some time to figure out the best method for you. However, with a bit of patience, you will be able to better understand the patterns of your cycle and successfully plan a pregnancy following an abortion.
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.
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How Does The Abortion Pill Work
When a woman decides to have a medication abortion, she first takes a pill called mifepristone. It acts by blocking progesterone, the natural hormone produced by the body to sustain a pregnancy. Soon, the growing baby loses its supply of oxygen and nutrients and detaches from the uterine lining. The woman then takes misoprostol, which provokes contractions to force the developing baby and the placenta out of the uterus.
If you would like to learn more about hormones and the abortion pill, read our article how the abortion pill really works.
Risks Of Pregnancy Within Six Months Of Giving Birth
There is good evidence that women who have babies closer together have riskier pregnancies the second time. This is because their bodies have not yet fully healed from giving birth. Even when you feel physically healed, your body is adjusting to changing levels of hormones and nutrients.
If you have a pregnancy within six months of giving birth, you increase the risk for complications such as:
- Growth restriction in the baby
- Premature rupture of membranes
While outcomes are slightly better if you wait at least six months between pregnancies, waiting at least 18 months is best. This gives the body time to heal and reduces the risks of complications. It also gives you time to plan your next pregnancy and receive preconception counseling, which reduces the risks of complications even further.
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Q: How Long Do I Have To Wait After An Abortion Before Going Back To Work
A: Patients who have surgical abortions often return to work within a day or two. Patients who have medication abortions often need two full days off of work. We recommend taking it easy for the first week or so after your abortion , most patients feel physically capable of daily activities very soon after their abortion. We are happy to provide doctors notes for missed work or school. .
Urgent Advice: Talk To Your Gp Or Doctor Immediately If
you experience any signs of a possible problem, such as:
- severe pain that cant 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 youve 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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When Will The Menstrual Cycle Become Normal After An Abortion
The menstrual cycle can resume right away after an abortion. However, since every womans body is different, some women may get their period again within four weeks, while others may have to wait up to 12 weeks for their menstrual cycle to bounce back to normal.
If you do not get your period within 8 to 12 weeks after an abortion, you should consider speaking to your doctor for further guidance.
For accurate predictions of ovulation, check out our ovulation tests in Australia!
What To Expect From Your Second Period After An Abortion
Regardless of which type of abortion you had, your second period should pretty much return to normal . Future periods should also be back on track. But its not unusual to experience irregular periods for a few cycles.
Reach out to your doctor if your period isnt going back to normal or if it hasnt come back after 8 weeks. You may be pregnant or experiencing a medical condition.
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Clinical Considerations And Recommendations
How should patients be counseled about abortion methods?
Only when patients have considered their options and decided to have an abortion does the discussion about the different methods become clinically relevant. Patients who choose abortion should be counseled about all methods available as well as the risks, advantages, disadvantages, and the different features of these options 56. Most patients who initially are unsure about the method will have some preference after counseling 13. Generally, patients are satisfied with the method they choose 121415. Patients who choose medication abortion tend to do so because of a desire to avoid a procedural intervention a perception that medication abortion is safer, more natural, and private compared with uterine aspiration or a combination of these reasons 16. Compared with uterine aspiration, medication abortion takes longer to complete and requires more active patient participation as the pregnancy expels outside of a clinical setting. The uterine aspiration procedure for a first-trimester abortion takes place most commonly in one visit, is slightly more effective, and allows for direct assessment of pregnancy tissue by the clinician.
What information and counseling should be provided to patients who are considering medication abortion?
When To Call Your Doctor
- Heavy bleeding that increases or requires you to change your pad more than once every hour
- Blood clots that are larger than a lemon or last 2 hours or longer
- Symptoms of pregnancy that last longer than 2 weeks
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
- Pain or swelling in your leg
- Symptoms of infection like a fever foul-smelling vaginal discharge discharge that looks like pus or pain in your stomach or back
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What Happens When You Conceive After Having An Abortion
Medical Abortion
In most cases, an abortion will not affect your future pregnancy. A medical abortion, which involves taking medication, seems to pose a lower level of risk than surgical abortion. This may be because medical abortions often happen early on in the pregnancy. Generally, having the procedure during early pregnancy reduces the risk of future pregnancy complications, such as ectopic pregnancy, preterm birth, pregnancy loss, or low birth weight. According to medical professionals, this method has a success rate of nearly 99%.
Surgical Abortion
Also called dilation and curettage, a surgical abortion is a process of removing the fetus through suction using a tool known as a curette. Sometimes, this type of procedure can cause scarring of the uterine wall, which can lead to future pregnancy loss. This, however, is quite rare. Only licensed medical professionals should perform a surgical abortion, and they should do it in a sterile and safe environment.
Essentially, any type of abortion not performed by a doctor is unsafe and can lead to immediate and/or future complications, including those related to fertility, pregnancy, and overall health.
When Will Your Period Start Again
Your menstrual period will likely begin 4 to 6 weeks post-abortion. But you can get pregnant before your period returns.
You can start many birth control methods right after an abortion or even the same day as the procedure. They include:
You can get an IUD or implant immediately after a surgical abortion. If you had a medical abortion, you can get an implant when you take your first pill. You can get an IUD when the abortion is completed.
If you had a second-trimester abortion, you need to wait until your cervix returns to its usual size before getting fitted before a diaphragm or cervical cap. This takes about 6 weeks.
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When Can You Get Pregnant Again After Having A Medical Abortion
Although it may be several weeks after your abortion before you get your menstruation again, you could ovulate in the first week or two after your abortion, which means you could get pregnant right away. If you do not want to become pregnant right away, it is very important to start using contraceptives immediately.
You can use condoms and other birth control methods right away. An IUD can be put in place as soon as 4-14 days after you take the Misoprostol, even if there is still light bleeding. You can also wait to insert an IUD until your next regular period, but you will need to use another contraceptive method in the meantime if you do not want to risk becoming pregnant.
You can start any other contraceptive method on the day you take the Misoprostol. However, if for some reason the medical abortion did not work and you are still pregnant, the hormones used in the birth control pills, patch, ring, implant and shot are not dangerous to a developing fetus. Nevertheless we recommend that you have a pregnancy test after 3 weeks, to confirm that the abortion was successful. If you start birth control pills before your menstrual cycle starts, it is best to use a barrier method as well, during the first 2 weeks, as the pills are slightly less effective during this time.
If you do want to become pregnant again after doing a medical abortion, it is also better to wait until after the first normal menstruation, so please use contraceptives until then.
Continue With The Pregnancy And Consider Adoption Or Fostering
If you would like to continue with the pregnancy, but dont want to raise a child, adoption is a way of giving a child a new legal family. Your midwife will be able to guide you through continuing with the pregnancy with a view to arranging adoption afterwards.
You can get expert advice on adoption from a number of sources:
- GPs and other healthcare providers
- Social Services or Social Work Department of your local council or local authority
- A registered adoption society or independent voluntary adoption agency
- Hospital social workers who work closely with maternity clinics
If a close relative would like to be the adoptive parent, you can arrange this yourself, but the process will be supported by Social Services.
Preparations for adoption will happen before the birth, but nothing is made definite until after the birth when the application for an Adoption Order is made to the Court. Once an Adoption Order is granted, it is legally binding and cant be undone.Adoption support and information is available through independent adoptions agencies such as Coram.
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Q: Which Type Of Abortion Is Better Medical Or Surgical
A: Patients under 11 weeks pregnant may choose either a medication or surgical abortion. Patients over 11 weeks pregnant are eligible for surgical abortions only. If you are under 11 weeks, what is better for you may differ from someone else. It is important to make this choice based on your personal needs and medical history. Please visit Abortion Services for more information on each abortion type. You are welcome you to call to speak with a health educator, free of charge, at any time about this very important decision.
What Happens If You Become Pregnant After Having An Abortion
This is what happens when a woman becomes pregnant following an abortion.
Many pregnant women considering abortion often wonder about any future consequences, especially in terms of future pregnancies. Usually, having an abortion will not affect your subsequent pregnancies. In rare cases, however, it can lead to scarring of the uterine wall, which may make it harder for you to get pregnant again, or even lead to future pregnancy loss.
The two main types of abortions are surgical abortions and medical abortions. The method that you choose will depend on your personal preferences, how far along your pregnancy is, and other factors. Due to advances in the field of medicine, the risks involved in both methods of abortion are relatively low. It is important to understand that you can become pregnant soon after having a surgical or medical abortion therefore, if you want to avoid this, use contraception.
However, what happens if you become pregnant after having an abortion? Here are the risks and safety precautions involved when you become pregnant after an induced abortion. Pregnant women should also learn about pregnancy and fertility after a miscarriage or spontaneous abortion.
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