Following a medical abortion, you may experience bleeding lightly, moderately, or heavily. In some cases, women do not bleed afterward, at all.
Bleeding can start right after the abortion process or until several days after. When it happens, it may stop at some point and then start again.
Don’t be surprised if you experience increased bleeding 4 to 5 days after a medical abortion, complete with clots and strong cramps that will last for several days.
Menstrual-like cramping is normal for the first week after an abortion and may extend to the second week. So don’t be alarmed.
Just take a pain reliever to ease the pain, such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen. But avoid Aspirin as it can increase bleeding.
The only time you need to worry or even call an A&E is when heavy bleeding becomes too heavy and too much.
What you need to know about bleeding after an abortion
- Bleeding can last around 1 to 2 weeks
- Blood clots maybe pass like a normal menstrual period
- When the bleeding stops, you may experience spotting until your next period
- 3 to 6 weeks after an abortion, your normal period should begin
- You may experience mood swings or emotional upset for a few days or weeks
- Menstrual-like cramping can happen for the first week or two
It is important to note that the symptoms you experience may vary from one abortion pill to another. In the case of Misoprostol, bleeding and cramps should be expected.
After using the pill, bleeding can start within 4 hours. But it can also happen at a much later period. Bleeding usually signals the start of an abortion.
As abortion continues and progresses, bleeding and cramps will become more severe and may be associated with other side effects like vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and dizziness.
Cramps and bleeding are often heavier if the pregnancy has developed for longer.
Once you experience heavier blood loss, with severe pain and cramping, this signals that the abortion process has reached its peak.
Once it’s complete, bleeding and cramps should diminish.
2 to 5 hours after using Misoprostol, you may experience the heaviest bleeding which then slows down within 24 hours. Light bleeding will continue for 1 to 3 weeks, and menstrual period should occur 4 to 6 weeks after.
There are instances when heavy bleeding can happen after 48 hours, along with clots that may pass for days or even weeks. This is normal when taking Misoprostol.
What is not normal is when heavy bleeding becomes severe.
How can you tell if you’re bleeding more than it is safe and necessary?
Keep track of the number of pads you’re using
If within an hour you soak 2 maxi pads, which extends to two hours in a row, you need to call your doctor immediately. This is because you are already experiencing severe bleeding.
Keep an eye on the size of any blood clots
Passing clots that are bigger than a golf ball for 2 hours or more is a sign of serious bleeding that requires medical attention. Don’t ignore the sign and call the clinic right away or go to an A&E if you are able.
Abnormal vaginal bleeding may be a result of the blood vessels not constricting or uterine muscles not contracting to stop the bleeding. On very rare occasions, it can also be a result of a perforated uterus or a lacerated cervix.
That is why abnormally heavy bleeding after an abortion should not be ignored.
While it is normal to pass blood clots as you heal from a medical abortion, with sizes that range from pebble-like to egg-like, the timeline tells a different story.
Golf ball-sized clots passing for two hours or more is a serious complication.
This can result in the uterus enlarging and causing severe pain because the cervical opening is blocked. It can be caused by the uterus not contracting and passing out tissue during an abortion.
Monitor the length of time that you’re heavily bleeding
Bleeding heavily for 12 hours in a row is bad news. This may be a sign that something is wrong and you should contact your physician right away.
The same is true if you bleed heavily for 12 hours or more and the color of blood is bright red instead of darker red.
Bleeding longer than 2 weeks
If you experience spotting or bleeding longer than 2 weeks, you should call your doctor for an appointment.
Remember that normal bleeding after an abortion should only last around 1 to 2 weeks. Anything longer than that is a cause for worry.
You should also call the doctor if you don’t have your period within 6 weeks after your procedure. There could be underlying causes that need to be checked and addressed immediately.
Based on the information above, one of the most important signs to look out for is the timeline of bleeding following an abortion.
Bleeding heavily during and a few weeks after an abortion is normal, provided that there are no large clots and that you’re not soaking several maxi pads or sanitary towels in one hour.
Bleeding for two weeks is common. But can be worrisome if it lasts longer.
With this in mind, monitor how long you bleed following a medical abortion and keep an eye out for other symptoms.
These include signs of infection, such as a headache, dizziness, or muscle aches, severe belly pain, 4 to 6 hours of vomiting, heavy or smelly vaginal discharge, and pain in the genital area.
Hello.
I had abortion just this May 24.
I am 6 weeks and 6 days. my bleeding and cramps happened only on that day, and now no pain and only light bleeding. I had passed sone clots , color dark red. Is it successful? Please advice. thank you
Hello Maj, the only way to know is to do a pregnancy test in 2 weeks time to see if you have successfully aborted.
Hi I was 10 weeks pregnant and I had a medical abortion on April 20th but bleeding isn’t stopping what do I do?
Hello Hina, see your doctor if you find bleeding to be abnormally long.
Gift
I took the pills on the 19th of April. Had normal bleeding plus clots the first week. Its been 5weeks already and I still experience spotting. Should I be worried? When should I expect my next period?
Note: I was 2months pregnant
Hello Gift, your period can return anywhere between 3-6 weeks. For others it might take a bit longer.
Hi, I had an abortion March 17, the bleeding lasted for 2 weeks, I then bled again April 26-30, I see it as my period though. The issue now is that I had an unprotected sex with my boyfriend last week. He didn’t ejaculate in me but I’m having a whitish watery discharge, please what does this mean?
Hi Beau, as long as it doesn’t smell, or itch or there are no other symptoms it could just be normal ovulation discharge as well. Have you gotten your period?
Hello! I had an abortion on May 16. Pls how long will the bleeding last before my normal menstruation will start?
Hi Precious, the bleeding could last up to two-three weeks, depending on how far along you were. Your normal period should begin anywhere between 4-8 weeeks after the abortion. However if the bleeding is heavy and you are changing your pad excessively, make a call to your doctor for a follow up.
Hello am Doreen was 3 weeks pregnant and i used pills to terminate(misoclear) misoprostolonly four pills 2 pills under the tongue and two in the vagina on 19th may. Experienced cramps and passed out lighter bleeding with a clot
Is there any possibility of incomplete abortion
Hi Doreen, the only way to know is to go for your follow up and get checked. However, at three weeks pregnant, there isn’t really a lot that needs to be passed. So it’s quite possible that everything has passed.
hello, i had a medical abortion on 27th March the procedure lasted for one day, prior to that weeks after i was spotting and my bleeding became a darker red and some days i wouldn’t bleed at all. however since the abortion i’ve been only spotting but today i noticed a bright red bleeding occurring is that a sign that my menstrual has began or should i be worried… Please help!!!
Hi Samantha, I would consider that your normal period. Your comment and question is a bit jumbled but this could most likely be your regular period showing itself at this point.
Hi I had a surgical abortion on 3 days ago . I didn’t bleed much up until last night, it’s really heavy and bright red. I haven’t soaked two pads in an hour because I’ve been close to the restroom so pass it all there. I’ve been bleeding like this since 10 pm last night there is lots of clots and I do have some pain. Is this sti considered normal or should I head to emergency room ?
Hi Melly, If you have been bleeding like that and you estimate that you would have changed two pads within the hour, I would make a call to your on call doctor. If you feel light headed especially I wouldn’t take any chances. Good luck!
I took the first dose of mifepristone &misoprostol tablet but bleeded very heavily for four hours and lightly the rest of the day but next day just little drops of blood was seen in the pad. Can it be that I have had a complete abortion. I was pregnant for nine weeks
Hello Elizabeth, not necessarily, you might bleed more for other days to come.
Hi my name is makayla I had a surgical abortion 3 weeks ago no regular pain pills are working for my cramps at all I am bleeding heavily and lots of clots a day I’m on week 3 since the abortion and the bleeding hasnt slowed down or anything when is all this going to stoo
Hello Makayla, I think you should see a doctor. Bleeding heavily with cramps for three weeks can affect your iron levels, etc.
Hi, I was 4weeks and 6days pregnant when I had medical abortion , the pharmacist suggested that I take just two out of the four pills of misoprostol , I did and left the rest, I bled and everything seemed fine until I started bleeding a little heavier but not extremely heavy with cramps after few day, I need to know if I need to take the remaining pills and if it’s not too late, also I need to know if the bleeding is normal , thanks
Hello Amy, the bleeding is normal as you are still aborting.
Hi, I had a medical abortion at 5 weeks and 4 days, and have had very little bleeding. It’s been 2 days since my abortion now, and my bleeding still hasn’t gotten very heavy at all. Im passing very small blood clots every now and then but thats about it. After I took my pill to terminate it, I threw up around 2 hours afterwards. Am now worried my abortion hasn’t been successful perhaps because I threw up, is the abortion working or not?
Hello Hannah, having thrown up you should have taken another pill. Abortion might not have been successful.
Hi my name is laura brooks…was two weeks pregnant and I took 800mcg of misoprostol 3hrly until the last dose…I had severe cramping and not much bleeding with headache and diarrhoea as well….i ts almost 48hrs now and I only see slight blood when I wipe my vaginaafter peeing….no blood in the pad
Hello Brooks, you might bleed in a couple of days to come.
Hi I was 10 weeks pregnant and I had a medical abortion on May 5th but this is my second dose of termination as with my first medical abortion I didn’t feel anything just bleeding like on the second dose.I bleed just normal and cramping and only small clot came out.I bleed for week and then stop then I am spotting again. Is this normal and I’m worried is my abortion is successful because it’s only small clot came out?
Hello Irene, this is normal during an abortion.
Hello,I had a medical abortion on the 6th of may,I passed a clot and bled for 1 day.Now I am spotting,bloated,feeling nausea and there is a lot of saliva.please help,am I still pregnant….Please help urgently
I was 4 weeks
Hello Peace, this is normal during an abortion.
My urine pregnancy test was positive and I was 12 days pregnant . I took 4tablets of cytotec (2 under the tongue and 2 inserted) on Saturday May 5. Few hours later I woke up to pooh and noticed I’m bleeding (heavy with a blood clot) within 24 hours the bleeding is light like an ending -menstruation bleeding. I’m so worried I don’t know if it’s successful because I just inserted 1 and have the other underneath my tongue right now.
Please reply.
Hello Christabel, abortion should have been successful with the recommended dosage of the abortion pills.