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What to expect after an abortion?
You may have bleeding or spotting for 2-4 weeks.
Medical or Surgical option
You may have bleeding or spotting for 2-4 weeks after the abortion. The amount of bleeding is different for everyone and can range from a light period to heavy bleeding.
You may also have cramps during this time. The cramps are most likely to happen 1-2 days after the abortion and last about a day or two. If you don’t feel comfortable using over-the-counter pain medicine, talk with your doctor about other options that might work better for you.
You should rest for 48 hours.
It is important to rest after an abortion. The amount of time you need to rest depends on the type of abortion you had, but it should be at least 48 hours.
You don’t have to lie in bed all day—just take it easy! You can watch TV or take a walk outside instead of going for a run. Or, if you’re feeling up for something more active and social, ask your friends or family members if they’d like to join you for a walk around the block or go see a movie together at home or in town.
You could be very emotional after an abortion.
You might:
- Feel a sense of relief. You will no longer have to make the difficult decision about whether or not to continue with your pregnancy, and that can be a welcome relief.
- Feel sad, angry or regretful. If you’ve experienced an abortion, it’s likely that you’ll also feel emotions such as sadness, anger or regret. These can be normal reactions to undergoing an abortion procedure.
- Feel relieved that you no longer have to make the difficult decision about whether or not to continue with your pregnancy, and this is sometimes referred to as “post-abortion syndrome.”
You should avoid sex until you don’t have any bleeding or discharge from the vagina.
You should avoid sex until you don’t have any bleeding or discharge from the vagina.
If you do not have a menstrual period within two weeks of the abortion, get in touch with your doctor, who may recommend an ultrasound to check on the status of your uterus. If necessary, they may prescribe birth control pills or other medications to regulate your menstrual cycle and prevent unwanted pregnancy in the future.
Take painkillers, if needed.
Painkillers are available at the clinic, and you can take them right after the procedure. You can also get painkillers from your local pharmacy if needed.
Painkillers are safe to take while breastfeeding, but ask your doctor about any risks and call the clinic if you have questions.
