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.
Hi Daniela took a misoprostol pill yesterday.. I soaked a full pad yesterday after 3hours of using d pills.. but today the blood is just coming a lil.. I was 3weeks gone
Hi Fo, that’s normal. You were very early on so less bleeding is okay.
Hi! I had an abortion July 4 inserted the pills around 4:30 pm then had heavy bleeding and clotting around 8:30 pm until lunch time the following day. After that, the bleeding and clotting is not that much and I just consumed like one to two pads of napkin a day til now. But I still have blood and clotting every time that i pee. Is this normal or my abortion is successful? Thanks in advance.
Hi Ella, this is normal.
Please i had medical Abortion 1 week ago and i saw blood for 5 days after 3 days i started Seening blood please is this normal or is the Abortion not successful
Hi Tauby, so you saw blood for 7 days? That’s normal.
Hello am juliet, I had unprotected sex on June 2.. I confirmed I was pregnant.. I used 2 misoprostol and injection.. I did not bleed so later I used another unknown 2 tablet from a nurse with 2 injections.. later that night I bleed but the bleeding last for 4 days…pls is it normal
Hi Juliet. Bleeding after an abortion for 4 days is normal.
Hi, mam i took 5tabs.of misoprostol n mifepristone combipack i was 1 n half month pregnant i took the pill 30th june i had bleeding cramping n blood cloth n today 7june ( 1 week) my bleeding is stopped.it is normal?
Hi Joon, yes this is normal.
Hi am khentsi i was 3 weeks when i took my termination pills i drank them at night and i went to bed. I woke up bleeding and i had one massive clot after that it was light bleeding the whole day and i stoped bleeding that night. Am bexperiancing abdominal pains today. No bleeding is this normal
Hi Khentsi, yes this is normal. you were only 3 weeks along which means there isn’t much for the body to pass.
Hi, Daniela, I took an abortion pills yesterday(4/7/2018)night and after 4 hours I started bleeding not an heavy bleeding, but today(5/7/2018)evening the blood has stoped coming, is it normal or what can I do cos am doubting if the abortion was successful, thanks.
Hi Helen, if you weren’t that far along it could be. But I wouldn’t be surprised if you still saw some additional bleeding as well.
I had a medical abortion 3 weeks ago and i’ve been bleeding for the past 3 weeks. Passed large clots earlier this week. Is it normal? Took a test today and it was positive! Is there a cause for alarm.
Hi Aneq, yes both can be normal. You shouldn’t take a pregnancy test this soon after as you aren’t even a month out from it. HCG is still in your body. As far as bleeding, also normal. GIve it another week or so.
I had a medical abortion May 9th. I’ve been bleeding 8 weeks now. Is that normal? The bleeding is light. I’ve been wearing pads…Is it safe to wear tampons? I took a pregnancy test and it says I’m still pregnant. What should i do?
Hi Andrea, by 8 weeks you should no longer be reading pregnant on a pregnancy test at this point and should make an appointment with your doctor to ensure that you either aren’t pregnant again, or that your abortion wasn’t complete. Good luck.
I had 42 days pregnancy i took misoprostal tab on 20 June bleeding was started with clots it continues for 7 days after 7 days l feel cramps and backache and also spotting. But from 3 July again I m bleeding heavily
Is it normal or risky
Hi Manju, some women bleed on and off for a few weeks after an abortion. If you are going through more than one pad every two hours though I would make an appointment with your doctor asap as that is something to be concerned about.
hi, i had a medical abortion on 15th of june. For the first 3 days i didnt bleed, then for the next two weeks i had heavy bleeding and it calmed down and near enough stopped on the 29th(Friday). Since then on the monday 1st july i am starting to feel very heavy cramps and passing clots the size of a 2pound coin, the bleeding is bright red and it is very painful and it dont seem to be slowing down or stopping. should i be worried.
Hi Chantelle, if you are going through one pad more than every two hours, then you should be concerned. Otherwise, it could be normal. Even after birth women experience the first period after birth and it’s much heavier and much more uncomfortable than their normal ones. If the filling of the pads isn’t the case, then take the time and allow it to pass. If you are concerned, call the on call doctor.
Hi I inserted 4 abortion pills vaginally to abort 2 weeks pregnancy I bleed just small amount of light blood and stopped just half day is the abortion process completed?
Hi Zuu, did you have your follow up? At 2 weeks pregnant there isn’t much for the body to pass and less bleeding is normal.
Hi I was 4 weeks pregnant had a medical abortion on June 6th. I was bleeding for weeks. After that it’s just come and go I check pregnancy tests after 3 weeks it says positive. Before 2 days bleeding start again i have small back pain do you think my abortion is not successful ?
Hi Jemila, it could have been that you still had pregnancy hormones in your system. You could be experiencing your period. I would recommend making a follow up appointment with your doctor to make sure that your abortion was successful.
So I recently went through with a medical abortion took the medicine bleed for first 4 days passed clots and when I went to my follow up apt . Turns out I was now 11 weeks pregnant and the abortion failed. I had a Continuing pregnancy. I was recommend to go through with a second abortion a surgical… most painful thing I ever experienced and I gave birth 2 times. More than a month later I’m still bleeding fresh red blood and also the brownish I’m so scared I’m still pregnant . In my belly I feel pregnant but I’m just thinking it’s just in my head because all the trauma Not sure what to do
Hi Jane, it could be either honestly, sometimes mentally, but if you feel you are still pregnant, take a pregnancy test and then make an appointment it’s your doctor especially if you are still bleeding a month later.
Hi, I took misoprostol and I have been having normal bleeding for 7 days now. No cramps or heavy bleeding but normal bleeding for 7 days. Is this normal?
Hi Susan, yes that is normal. Some bleed for a couple of weeks.
after aborting 6weeks pregnancy, I have been bleeding for more than 3weeks now.,but now the bleeding is not rushing it will just come as clots and stop and come again. after some hours please is this normal?
Hi Sharon, spotting can last for a couple of weeks. So yes that’s normal.