Photo: Pixabay
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
I had a medical abortion in November 2015, I was 6-7 weeks pregnant. My periods are still irregular for the first time in my life – sometimes at 15 days and other times at 24-27 days. They are only lasting a day or 2 with not much flow but very very dark red blood. I am worried that I am no longer ovulating and this may be a symptom of something more serious than just my body taking 8 months to recover! I am 27 years old and scared I may have ruined my fertility.
You are experiencing your body’s reaction to the abortion. It is very stressful to have this done to your body. Many women do not have their normal cycle back for months. There is no way anyone can tell you for sure what is going on. It is best to go to your doctor and have them make sure.
hi.. am joy 25 years old i had an abortion 1o days ago and i had have sex today what exactly the chance for me to have another pregnant as an outcome of that practice????
You have to speak with your doctor. You really shouldn’t be having sex so soon after an abortion. Your body is likely going to be very stressed out. Most doctors do recommend taking it easy, I am shocked your doctor did not. I would call and ask.
I had a medicine abortion on 20 April 2016. It’s been 6 weeks and i haven’t seen my menses yet. I’m really worried. is my pregnancy terminated or not??
You are likely experiences a delay. This is very common. An abortion may seem like a simple procedure but your have to keep in mind that your body still believes it is pregnant. Some women do not get their period for months after this has been done. Focus on eating a good diet and limiting stress.
Hi, I had an abortion by taking pills on the 23rd of February this year,the blood flew for some days. after that my period came out normally on march and April. But since May till now I haven’t seen my period. I have done a pregnancy test, but it’s negative. Could it mean I can’t see my period again? Pls help me out.
did you have unprotected sex in the meantime? there could be many causes of a missed period. please read this post for more information
Hi
I had an abortion 8 days ago. It was a wanted pregnancy but I had severe Pre Natal Depression. I had no idea that existed and had no chance to seek professional help. I sank into this black hole of impending doom and only termination was an option.
I now see things better and know that I still want to add to my family and will like to get pregnant again.
i am stressed that things will not be back to normal…when will ovulation occur?
You sound very stressed out. One thing that can wreck ovulation is stress. Not to mention, you had an abortion only 2 weeks ago. I would suggest trying to relax and working on your emotions and mental state before considering having another child. No one can tell you when it will happen, just take care of your body and be healthy until then.
Hi I had a d and c in March and I have not seen my period as at June 3 is it normal
I had an abortion March 7th, I have had periods that are all on time but I feel like my hormones are out of control and the PMS is insane. I am moody cranky irritable and the bleeding has been so heavy I have to use a super plus and a pad and change it out every hour or two for the first day. This is my third period like this. 🙁
The changes in your cycle are normal after an abortion. Your blood flow is very heavy though – you may be losing too much blood and this can affect your blood flow. It’s best to visit your doctor for an assessment.
I had unprotected sex ten days after a medical abortion. Will I get pregnant since the blood ceased 2days before the sex.
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.
Hello, I did a surgical abortion on the 4th of May and I had my period straight away after the termination. I’ve bled from the 4th till now…I’m starting a 5th week on my periods, is that normal?
Hello. What you’re experiencing is not normal – you must consult your surgeon for a follow-up visit. You are bleeding for too long.
I am 26 years old have had 7 abortions. Can I still get pregnant and have a lot of kids in future?
It is possible for you to get pregnant again as long as both you and your partner are fertile and you have no underlying health issues.
Had an abortion on April 24 surgically…got my period on May 29…there is a heavy flow like I’m changing 4 pads daily. Usually this is not what I experience every month. Should I be worried about the flow?
The effects of an abortion include bleeding, cramps or a vaginal discharge. If the bleeding is excessive you must revisit the doctor that performed the procedure for an assessment.
Hi, I had an evacuation on the 18th of March and until now I have not had my period. I am confused about this what do I do?
Typically, it takes at least four to eight weeks after an abortion for a period to return. Give it some more time to come.
HEllo everyone, had a miscarriage the 9th of march 2016, after which I had my first period on the 18th of April 2016. My 2nd period came again on the 14th of May. Now my problem is that nowadays my body feels warm most of the time and my stomach grumbs. I don’t know what is happening to me.
Again I had unprotected sex on the 29th of May as my fiance and I are trying to be pregnant. I want to be pregnant again. Any suggestions will help
Hello, Yes there are chances of getting pregnant after abortion. The symptoms you are telling might not actually be of pregnancy. To make getting pregnant easier your medical and physical health is very important so dont take too much stress and take proper diet and exercise.
Good evening. I had an abortion on the 21st of April and this is 6 weeks of an abortion but I have not seen my menses. What do I do and what might be the cause? Thanks friends. I need an answer.
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 my abortion on the 30th of April 2016 which was medical abortion. Since then I haven’t seen my period.
This is normal, it will take 4 to 8 weeks for a period to return after an abortion.
Hi. Abortion is illegal in our country. May I ask someone who has already experienced abortion if it is really painful? Even if it has an anesthesia? Thanks for the response. Me and my Girlfriend are scared because we’re planning to abort if ever she is positively pregnant. As of now she is 9 days delay on her mens and we’ll try home pregnancy test. Thanks a lot!
Hi! I suggest you guys make a visit to the doctor ASAP. She is already 9 days late, it could be something else, but the chances are she is most likely pregnant. I sense that having a baby is not in your plans, in which case its best to see a doctor as soon as possible. You’ll be advised an adoption procedure based on far along you are. Any abortion is terrible, especially for a woman. It’s painfully, both physically and emotionally, she will need time to recover. As someone who went through it, I’ll say this: THINK IT THROUGH. Because there is nothing I regret more. If you two love each other, you should consider yourselves lucky. You’ve been blessed with the greatest gift one could think of. Some people try to conceive for 10, 15, 20 years with no result. I don’t know your circumstances, but should you choose to keep the baby, I guarantee you’ll be blessed with means to raise it. It will be hard in the beginning but eventually things will settle themselves.