You may bleed heavily, moderately, lightly or not at all, for one to three weeks after the abortion. Some women do not start to bleed until several days after the abortion, some stop bleeding and then start again, some pass clots with strong cramps for several days.
Don’t be surprised if 4-5 days after the abortion you experience increased cramping or bleeding.
Your normal period should begin four to six weeks after the abortion, unless you are on birth control pills.
Menstrual-like cramping pain is normal for the first week or two. You can take ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Actiprofen) up to 600 mg. every four hours (with food). If you still have strong cramps two hours after taking ibuprofen you can also take acetaminophen (Tylenol) up to 400 mg. every four hours. Taking Aspirin (A.S.A., Entrophen) may increase bleeding.
Smoking cigarettes after the abortion can make you faint so we recommend you not smoke for three hours after the procedure.
Do not drive or make major decisions, like signing legal papers, until the day after the procedure.
Your temperature may be slightly elevated for a day or two. Check it if you are concerned. The normal range is 36.5 to 37.5 C (97.4 to 99.4 F).
Mood swings or emotional upset often accompanies the drop in pregnancy hormones and may last for a few days or even weeks. Morning sickness should disappear within two days and breast changes usually settle by the end of the first week but both may persist if you are on the birth control pill.
You may notice a milky discharge from your breasts after the abortion. Do not express the fluid; this will go away within two weeks.
Precautions
There are a few simple things you can do to reduce the risk of infection:
Wear pads for the first week if you are bleeding and avoid putting anything into your vagina if you can. This means no tampons, no vaginal sex and no tub baths. Showers are OK.
During the second week you can have tub baths, have vaginal sex using condoms and insert tampons with clean fingers (but still use only pads at night). Avoid swimming and hot tubs for two weeks.
Do not do a pregnancy test afterwards as the pregnancy hormones leave the body slowly, a test can still be positive weeks after an abortion has removed the pregnancy.
Further care
Post-abortion counselling is available at the clinic for those who feel it would be helpful. If you experience prolonged emotional turmoil you may benefit from this counselling; there is no charge for this. To make an appointment for this call 604-322-6692 during normal clinic hours. There are also some good, pro-choice post-abortion resources on the internet including "Emotional Responses After Abortion" on the Childbirth by Choice Trust website and a helpful pamphlet "After your Abortion" from the Hope Medical Group in the US. Peaceafterabortion.com is an excellent resource as well.
NOTE: Please be aware it IS possible to get pregnant right after an abortion; you can conceive very soon afterwards.
We would like you to contact us two weeks after your appointment. Please use the following form to tell us how you are doing:
