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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
Hello, my normal period starts on 27th of the month, 30 day cycle. I had an medical miscarriage on 19/11/2015, I want to get pregnant. If my regular period comes on 27/11/2015, can I try to get pregnant again? Will I have healthy pregnancy? I need to know when is the earliest I can get pregnant. Thanking you in advance.
Hi,There is no perfect amount of time to wait before trying to conceive again, but many healthcare providers encourage woman to wait at least a few months to strengthen the chance of a healthy pregnancy. If a woman’s body isn’t ready to support a pregnancy by the time that she conceives again, she faces an increased risk of experiencing a repeat miscarriage. It takes time for the uterus to recover and for the endometrial lining to become strong and healthy again.
I had abortion October 19 2015 I started bleeding lightly October 31st, then it became heavy november 5th 2015. something like an onion bulb filled with blood and something skin came out of me 7th of November 2015 with serious stomach pain and still bleeding heavily then. so on the 16th november I started seeing brown discharge. till date pls am I still pregnant.
Hi,Uterine cramping is normal after any kind of abortion,All women bleed during an abortion. In rare cases, some women bleed more than is safe. The best way to tell if you are bleeding too much is to keep track of the number of pads you are using and the number and size of any clots. Call your provider if you soak two maxi pads an hour for two hours in a row, if you pass large clots, or if you begin to feel light-headed. Yo should call your doctor and let him run some tests to make sure you are not pregnant or had any complications.
Hello,
I had a surgical abortion on September 25th 2015 I was about 3-4 weeks pregnant. I had a light period the week before which is how I knew I was pregnant, It started on September 15 and went off the next day. I bleed from the abortion from September 29-Oct. 7th. I ended up having unprotected sexual intercourse on Oct.2nd, Oct.11,and Oct. 19th. According to the app that I use to tell me when my cycle should come on and if I am ovulating(which in the past has been accurate). I ovulated from oct 2nd-oct.7th and my next cycle for the month of OCt should of been Oct.28-Nov1st. and I should have ovulated again on Nov.14-19th. My days does not show a cycle for November, I guess because my cycle should of went off Nov 1st. and my next cycle is supposed to come Dec10-14th. I did not go for my check up but I went to my OBGYN on 11-9-2015 and even took two home test. I was not pregnant, I have yet to see my menstrual cycle, am I over thinking the situation or could i be pregnant????
In most instances, a menstrual cycle is expected within 4 to 8 weeks after an abortion. You’ve also been cleared by your OBGYN so you should not worry.
I had abortion on 7th Nov 2015 and was given medication that I took for a week. I went back for review after I saw changes in colour of urine. At the check up was given UTI antibiotics. I have experienced little blood since the procedure was done, is that normal?
Yes it is. Some persons may experience heavy bleeding while for others it is light.
Am I pregnant if I had my menses on October 17-23 followed by unprotected sex from 25-28 October? My cycle is 28days.
It is possible for you to get pregnant based on the dates provided. You were fertile from October 29 to November 02, 2015. Continue to monitor the changes in your body to see if you are.
Hello, pls I had an abortion 23rd of October, after bleeding, brownish discharge and the likes,..had an unprotected sex 4th of November, though he didn’t come inside me…weeks after, I started noticing a heavy yellow discharge which smells, and am yet to see my period this month, though started having menstrual cramps yesterday. Could it be that I’m pregnant or what?
Hello. Fret not about your delayed period – in most instances, a menstrual cycle is expected within 4 to 8 weeks after an abortion.You may not be pregnant but the discharge needs to be assessed by your doctor.
I had abortion 5th October , bleeding had been off and on , brown discharge , lighting red bleeding during sex , is this normal?
???
Hello,It is normal for the bleeding and clotting to continue for 1-3 weeks or even longer. Every woman’s body is different.If you have extreme pain, prolonged heavy bleeding, abnormal vaginal discharge or fever, it might be a sign that you have a complication and should go to a doctor.
My friend had an abortion in April and up till now her menses has not come. The pregnancy was only a month ,please is it normal or does she have a problem?
A menstrual cycle is expected within 4 to 8 weeks after an abortion. Her period is delayed period for seven months; this is cause for concern. Has she done a pregnancy test to confirm if she’s pregnant? It is advisable that she visits her doctor to rule out any other issues.
I had a surgical abortion on 6th Oct 2015. I have been bleeding irregularly like for five minutes little blood and small clots. I have back pains often. Am I okay?
The effects of an abortion include bleeding, cramps or a vaginal discharge. Your symptoms appear to be normal. If you experience a high fever, however, you need to see your doctor. Continue to monitor your condition and eventually the symptoms will go.
Hi…..I’ve had a medical abortion self administered on the 23rd October and to date I’ve not had a period though Ive found for the past two weeks I’m constipated with some mild abdominal pains not pains for period though. I’ve took two pregnancy test and they were both negative. I’m really confused…..though I think I passed everything out during the abortion period I don’t know if everything came out……ADVICE NEEDED.
Most times, a menstrual cycle is expected within 4 to 8 weeks after an abortion. The tests being negative indicate that you’re not pregnant, but you need to have the cramps and pains checked out by your doctor just to be sure.
Haven’t seen my periods since last year december 2014 after abortion checked several doctors and tested everything and they can’t see anything
I had an abortion on 10-16-15 and I started my cycle on 11-13-15 ..I am bleeding Terribly bad blood clots and all is this normal ..
Hi Vette, please consult your doctor about your issue, only a doctor after an examination can tell you what’s going on. good luck
I Had an abortion on the 25 July 2015 it was incomplete so I did another evacuation 2day later@ 5wks 3days and also a vaginal swab test and it came out it dat I have yeast and pneudomonas bacteria which I treated with antibiotics and I got my period 5wks later it was light but not scanty and lasted for 3days like my normal period with the first day being pink later bright red and then brown. it been four months since my abortion and my period hasn’t returned to the normal dark red medium/heavy flow and i’ve also been experiencing mild uterine contraction that goes off/on, thought it was because I was taking postinor 2 to prevent pregnancy after the abortion. but I’ve stopped taking it and my period hasn’t returned to normal…please it normal after an abortion to experience that?
The symptoms you’re experiencing are normal after an abortion. Read this link for more information http://womanjunction.com/menstrual-cycle-abortion/
I had an abortion on the 12th of this month (november) and I still feel some pain, is that normal?…are there any possibilities that an abortion failed?….please help
Hello, Cramping after an abortion is normal. The uterus was enlarged and is returning to its normal size. Cramping can occur off and on for two to three weeks after the procedure, and may be worse than period cramps.
Hi, I did an abortion last week of September I don’t really remember the exact date it has been 27 or 28. I have a heavy bleeding by that time and more blood clots pass out. Then after a week since I did the abortion I have a bleeding for almost 2 weeks slightly bleeding. Now my concern is first week of November I got 2 days of period, which is the blood color is very light then its stop. Didn’t know the reason because November 2 I started to go to gym till date. I did several times for pregnancy test but the result is always positive the one line color is very light. Am I still pregnant? We have an active sex but we used the pull out method. I’m so confused and worried about this.
Hello. Generally, hCG levels will remain high up to 6 weeks after abortion or miscarriage. It may be necessary to re-test a few times after an abortion to ensure that the pregnancy has been terminated. You are about eight weeks post abortion so you need to visit your doctor to ensure that there is no retained tissue and that you did not conceive again.
A friend of mine had medical abortion on 22/10/2015, she had unprotected sex on 23/10/2015 could she be pregnant because she has not yet seen her periods
Hi, Once you have unprotected sex you can get pregnant the only way to know now is to take a test.
I had medication abortion I was 6 weeks and it’s all ready – everything went great. I went for my check up on the ultrasound and they said everything looks fine and my period should come in any day. It’s been already 2 weeks after my check up of my abortion and I still did not get my period. But I feel it’s coming though.EVERY lady should know her body, but I have so much pain and cramping on my lower abdomen and I do have an ovarian cyst but its only 2 cm so I don’t know maybe it may cause more pain but in the middle of the night, I mean every night I wake up with RELAY BAD pain where I have to hold my lower stomach as if I was pregnant and when I get up to go to the bathroom it hurts so much to walk and it’s only that worse over the night when I get up how badly its hurts. I never had this much pain when I my period has to come and which I know it’s coming but if feels like it’s never gonna come with all the pain. Please, whats going on? AND I’M SCARED
The effects of an abortion include bleeding, cramps or a vaginal discharge. If these symptoms are excessive and you have a high fever then you must see a doctor. You need to see your doctor about the pain since it is so excruciating. Don’t worry about your delayed period – in most instances, a menstrual cycle is expected within 4 to 8 weeks after an abortion.