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Making the decision to go through with an abortion it is often a stressful one.
There are many reasons why that decision is made whether it’s due to the health of the mother, learning about the health of the baby, and also that it’s just not the right time to bring a child into the world.
Whatever the situation is, it’s not one for others to judge, that is your decision and whatever you choose to do, it’s right for you.
Because it’s a stressful situation, there could be an effect on your upcoming menstrual cycle.
As explored in previous articles, stress can delay your period because your body is trying to regulate everything else (and it’s been said that delaying ovulation helps to prevent a pregnancy during a stressful time based on history).
Some women see their periods return quickly, within 4-8 weeks, while others may not see it as soon.
Let’s take a look at the basics of an abortion, different types, and then we can discuss how it can affect your next cycle (or two).
Abortion – General Information
An abortion is when pregnancy is ended at an early stage through an outside intervention. While there is a term, spontaneous abortion, it’s sort of a misnomer. It’s essential to note that this is a miscarriage.
This was not a pregnancy where the parents decided to terminate it, it’s when the body did it naturally [1].
The body, once a woman is pregnant, starts creating pregnancy hormones and preparing all the organs for sustaining a new life.
This means that during the time before and even after the abortion for a period of time, the woman can still experience some pregnancy symptoms such as morning sickness and sensitivity to smells.
The body must go back to normal and let those hormones regulate in order for you to start feeling yourself again and so that you start having a cycle again.
When you make the decision to get an abortion you’ll want to go to a trained medical practitioner. Going to a place that isn’t can risk your health and your future fertility.
There are two types of abortion, a medical abortion, and a surgical abortion.
No matter which you choose an early abortion will not impair your fertility or result in complications later in pregnancies.
Both medical and surgical method can be used to induce abortion throughout the pregnancy. The choice of method used depends on factors such as pre-existing medical conditions, preference of women and availability of surgeon.
Medical Abortion
The medical abortion is as it states, it’s done with medicine and one of the most common medications used for this is mifepristone, a progesterone receptor modulator. Since progesterone is required to maintain pregnant uterus in quiescent state, mifepristone will bring about uterine contractions and result in expulsion of fetus.
This is followed by prostaglandin analogue misoprostol, which can now be administered in lower doses, and brings about strong contractions to expel products of conception.
This is something you must get from a doctor and is not an over-the-counter medication. The name may change depending on where you are located however they all do the same thing.
Surgical Abortion
As the name states, this is an abortion done surgically where the doctor will do either a manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) or a dilation and evacuation (D&E).
The former is generally done within the first 12 weeks and the second can be done after the first month [3].
What About your Menstrual Cycle after an Abortion
When you terminate a pregnancy during the first trimester, your period should return in four to eight weeks [4].
Generally, the earlier in the pregnancy you have the abortion, the sooner your cycle will return.
However, that does also depend on what type of birth control you are using (as some can delay or lighten your period, even stop it completely.
No matter what type of method you are using, if you don’t see your period return within the eight weeks, it’s advised to contact your doctor to check for pregnancy or any underlying conditions.
Right after the abortion, your body is going to prioritize expelling all the remnants from the lost pregnancy.
This includes fetal tissue in addition to other debris from your uterus, and it’s characterized by heavy bleeding.
Essentially, this is your first period because it is the beginning of your cycle, getting your body ready to ovulate once again.
The first period after an abortion might not be what you usually anticipate. It could be lighter than your normal one and might not last for the length of time that is normal for you.
That next period could even be heavier than you normally would expect as well. However, if your period is exceptionally heavy and long (filling more than one pad every two hours), you’ll want to contact your doctor.
What Could Change?
When it does come to that next period, as stated above, it might not be what you would normally expect. It could be different in multiple aspects than what your periods were like before your abortion.
One change could be 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 [5].
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 [6].
One reason that the period after a medical abortion is heavier is that the body is still expelling all pregnancy-related tissues [7].
A surgical abortion removes the products of conception and endometrial lining, which results in lighter periods.
Pregnancy Test After Abortion
After an abortion, many want to see if it was successful and taking a pregnancy test is a sure way to determine that. Right?
Well, not necessarily depending on when you take it. A pregnancy test measures the levels of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) in the urine which is the pregnancy hormone as we’ll call it.
While the hormone does decrease very quickly after an abortion, there is still some in the body for up to four weeks after having an abortion [8].
After this point, it’s safe to take a test and determine that you are in fact no longer pregnant. Before that, you may get a false positive because your body hasn’t fully cleared the hormones from your system.
A blood test is a bit different because they can see the actual levels of the hormone. A test can be taken just before the abortion and then about five days post-abortion. If the levels have decreased, then the abortion is successful [9].
Getting Pregnant After Abortion
In that timeframe between the abortion and your next period, you may ovulate. However, this time can vary for different women and depends on how far the pregnancy was when the abortion happened.
Generally, this happens before the second cycle, the first cycle is when the body is still clearing out the pregnancy hormones and such and getting back to being regular again [10].
Because you will not know if you are ovulating yet, it’s recommended that you take precautions to prevent another pregnancy. Either you or your partner could investigate different methods of birth control.
In addition to not wanting to go through another abortion, your body will need time to heal from the loss of a pregnancy so another one is not recommended until at least a few months when it is Fully recovered.
This is very true for those who have had a surgical abortion where the cervix needs to heal from an actual surgery.
Final Thoughts
Again, having an abortion is an extremely personal decision and one that will affect you not only physically but also mentally as well.
Take care after your procedure to care for yourself, whatever that entails. It could be seeing a therapist, taking some yoga classes and meditation (once cleared by your doctor), getting a massage or a spa day, etc. It’s up to you.
Each person will handle it differently but treat your body with respect afterward and when you are ready to start your family, you will still be able to.
Do you have a question about your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, abortion or any other related topic? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.
References
- Visit https://www.webmd.com/women/abortion-procedures#1
- See https://www.nps.org.au/australian-prescriber/articles/mifepristone
- See above #1
- Planned Parenthood. What can I expect After Having an In-Clinic Abortion? [link]
- Aliya Khan via First Cry Parenting. Period After Abortion – Symptoms, Changes and Self Care Tips. [link]
- See above #5
- New Kids-Center. What’s Period After Abortion Like When to Worry? [link]
- Women Help Women. Was My Abortion Successful? [link]
- see above #8
- see above #7
Hi, I had a medical abortion on 8th April 2016 and it’s 4 weeks now, I’m yet to see my period. Is it normal, I’m worried, can I know the estimated date of my period?
Your period may take another 4 weeks before it arrives. It is not possible to state the exact time when your period will come after an abortion; it depends on your body. Continue to practice safe sex and give it some more time to arrive.
Hi, I had a medical abortion on April 8 2016, I’m yet to see my period and it’s 4 weeks now, is it normal?I’m getting worried.
genifa – When you get an abortion it isn’t a simple act of stopping the fetus from growing and removing it. The doctor is removing a life source from the body. Just like when you have parasites and kill them off, your body is going to react to it. Some women do not have their periods for several months after having an abortion because it is very stressful on the body and the subconscious mind. Load up on vitamins & minerals. It will help the body heal.
Hi im julissa, i had an abortion on march 17 and on march 28 i had unprotected sex and he came in me and i got my period on april 17 is there a chance i may be pregnant?
Hi Julissa, no. If you got your normal period in april, you are not pregnant.
Hello,
I had my D&C done on 15th March. i bled lightly on first few days and then i started bleeding dark red brown (sorry for the details) on 27th march till 1st April. I don’t know if that was my first period or not since it lasted 5 days just like my old menstrual cycle. anyway, my next period was supposed to be due on 2nd may. instead I got mild cramping in my abdomen and hurting breasts. i thought it was because of my oncoming periods but they didn’t happen and it kept on hurting me just as if they were happening. I went for an ultrasound on 3rd may and the doctor said all was normal, there was no follicular activity just in case i might be pregnant again. i started spotting yesterday, very light brown and yellowish, had a fairly small amount of blood which stopped immediately and then i continued spotting again.
we had sexual intercourse twice after my D&C, once on 25th March but i got my periods after that and the second on 19th april which was unprotected and unplanned but I took an emergency contraceptive after that since I thought conceiving so soon again wasn’t such a good idea.
Doctors are being highly unhelpful, each one keeps on telling me scary stories but no honest answers. I will be highly grateful if someone would shed any light on this. i feel so clueless and depressed.
Hello Sheridan, Please don’t be depressed and shed away that stress. It will cause you more problems. Well you probably have not got your normal periods because after abortion its’s common for some ladies to get their periods back after almost 6-8 weeks.
Since your ultrasound was normal, pregnancy might not be the case. I would suggest you to find a good doctor with a calm mind so that if you still face some issue you can get a satisfying reply. Stay Happy 🙂
Hello Emily, thank you for such a friendly reply! You have no idea how hard it is to find kindness and sympathy in this world now.
I got my period the next day, bled heavily for 5 days flat and then got my periods again only 9 days after my previous one had stopped.
I was supposed to get married next week but my supposed better half has started fighting with me and using harsh tones when talking to me, so the wedding is off.. talk about being supportive…it was our baby I aborted on his saying..toughest decision ever…shedding stress away isn’t such an easy thing right now especially when you are bleeding so much, your supposedly better half turns into a fighting machine, and you have your finals coming up too. I have learnt one thing about myself during all this process, and that is that I am a wounded survivor. Life will move on and I have the strength to do that all alone. I am so sorry for being so emotional.
Hello Sheridan. We truly sympathise with you. It’s okay to be emotional – it helps to reduce the stress so don’t be too hard on yourself. Always remember that life is a cycle and some things happen for a reason. Take the lesson that you’ve learned and move on with all the strength that you have. You’ll be fine, this too shall pass.
Hello, I had abortion through home made recipes, I don’t have any symptoms of pregnancy again, the breast tenderness has stop and no more discharge, but am yet to see any blood drops nor menstruation either. Please is this normal or could it be the pregnancy isn’t aborted.
It is risky to use home made remedies for abortions. You now need to take a pregnancy test and see a doctor to ensure that the pregnancy is truly terminated.
I had an abortion March 9, bled for about 4-5 weeks afterwards. Its now 8 weeks post abortion and I have not had my period. I feel the symptoms (cramping, muscle tension, headaches) but no period. Have not had sex since before procedure but took pregnancy test at clinic Monday and received “faint positive” line. I’m worried because I have a trip next week and don’t want it to start.
Hello Staylo90, A faint positive line can be seen on pregnancy test because of HCG traces that remain in your body till 6-8 weeks of abortion. Every woman’s body is different and may respond differently. The symptoms you are experiencing could also be symptoms of PMS.So, for you it is advisable to go visit a doctor for an assured answer.
When you have an abortion, it is very hard on your body. Most women take a few years to fully recover from it. You have to relax and give your body what it needs right now which is a healthy diet and rest. Worrying just puts more stress on your body. You are likely experiencing pregnancy symptoms because your body still believes it is pregnancy.
Hello…I was 5 weeks pregnant and I took abortion pills on 17th April at night. Next day in the morning I saw little blood and few hours later the small clot blood was discharge and the bleeding was stopped.On 23April I had protected sex,and up to now I did not get my period.I am worried if abortion was successful since I didn’t get have bleeding or I may be pregnant again?.I am so confused and very stressfull plz reply quick.thanks
Hello Neema, Every woman’s body is different.Ideally, bleeding after abortion can continue lightly one to three weeks after the abortion, but for some it could be shorter or longer.The normal menstrual period mostly returns after four to six weeks of abortion. So please do not worry too much and take a pregnancy test for a peace of mind. Also,the correct time of taking a pregnancy test is 10 days after your missed period date.
I lost my pregnancy through an abortion in January, I saw my period in February, since then no period. I’m scared and 47 yrs old.
Don’t worry about your delayed period – in most instances, a menstrual cycle is expected within 4 to 8 weeks after an abortion.
I had uterus evacuation on the 19th of March and since then till now I have not seen my menses, I consulted my doctor and he did a scan and told me that I’m OK. I’m worried because I’ve not seen my menses.
It is normal for a period to be delayed after an abortion or miscarriage. It will take a least 4 to 6 weeks for you period to return.
Hi i had one abortion on feb 15.2016 and i had period after that on march 19 like normal periods.I had protected sex but my periods not came till today…i did urine pregnancy test .it is negative..Is it normal??please reply
Hi Santosh,It is sometimes possible that second period could be delayed after abortion. However, it is also important to have pregnancy test correctly. Did you have that pregnancy test after 10 days of your missed period date? if you had that earlier than that, i would suggest you to go for a retest. Also, If you still dont get your period please do consult a doctor for a peace of mind.
Hi, I had an abortion on March 28 and bled until April 9. I’ve done several ultrasounds nothing there but my pregnancy test are still coming out positive. I’ve been on birth control haven’t had my period and no intercourse. Is it normal too have positive pregnancy test after a month since the abortion?
Hi I had an abortion on March 11 and had an infection and bleeding lasted for nearly 2 weeks but I’m not yet to receive my period. Is that normal??
After an abortion, your period may take 4 to 8 weeks before it returns.
Hi Hina, the bleeding you considered first period was probably the bleeding that happens after abortion. After abortion, the first period usually comes after 4-8 weeks and that’s completely normal. Also, it’s good that you didn’t had sex. It is advised to not have sex and not even use tampons for the first month after abortion. Don’t worry, it will come after some time.
I was in a very bad relationship, in result, I had three abortions in one year, this is something I am very very ashamed of, but deep down I know it was best for me at the time, and the amount of abuse I dealt with in that relationship I still truly believe it was the best choice all around in every aspect. It’s been about a year and I’m nervous and scared that I won’t be able to have children anymore, this makes me depressed and even more ashamed and disappointed in myself. My period went back to normal pretty much right after besides the fact that my blood is a little darker than usual, but only for a few days of my period as well as some periods only lasting a few days, or they last a few days, stop for a few and then continue on, since my period has changed a little bit than before the abortions. It worries me that something’s wrong, and all I think about is not being able to reproduce again, I need some advice or some help with what to do/think…thank you.
I had my abortion on April 16. I stopped seeing blood on April 27. I had sex on April 30. Is there any chance to be pregnant??!
It is very important that you give yourself time to heal both emotionally and physically before you try to conceive again. Physical recovery after a miscarriage is quick and takes only a few days. After about a month, your body will be working normally and your menstrual cycles will begin once again. It is possible to become pregnant during your first menstrual cycle after your miscarriage or abortion.
I had my abortion on 22nd March and I was bleeding till the 1st of April and I haven’t seen my period. Please I am still worried.
A menstrual cycle is expected within 4 to 8 weeks after an abortion. You don’t need to worry.