Caring for Yourself After Medical Abortion

What is medical abortion?

As the name suggests, medical abortion refers to the act of stopping a pregnancy using medicines. Medical abortion requires a different method of aftercare from surgical abortion. The reason is because medical abortion is similar to a miscarriage which happens at home without the need of a doctor’s supervision. However, you still need to have a check-up with your doctor after 2 weeks of bleeding.

Medical abortion aftercare

Normally, you can get back to your daily schedule after a couple of days as soon as your uterus has been cleared up. However, you still need to avoid intense physical activities for the next 2 weeks. The same applies to sexual activities. When you are ready to have sex again, remember to use birth control, preferably condoms to prevent infection. One important thing to keep in mind is that you should not rinse your vagina with any kind of fluids. No matter how much you feel the need of cleansing yourself after the tragic experience, you are not advised to do that. Improper cleaning can result in increased risks of infections, which could lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.

What to expect after a medical abortion?

After a medical abortion, most women are expected to have:

+ Around 2 weeks of vaginal bleeding or spotting. If your pregnancy is more than 7 weeks, you may bleed longer.

+ 2 weeks of cramping. The cramping often feels like menstrual cramps and may last up to 6 weeks for some women.

+ Mood swings due to the hormonal changes caused by the pregnancy hormones. The emotions can range from relief to guilt, sadness, and even grief.

When to seek medical help?

You need to call your doctor immediately if you notice any of the symptoms below:

+ Heavy bleeding: Surgical and medical abortions all cause bleeding. But it is different from the bleeding of a normal menstrual circle. You are bleeding heavily if you:

• Are passing clots which are bigger than a golf ball and this lasts for more than a couple of hours
• Wet more than 2 sanitary pads in one hour and this lasts for 2 hours continuously
• Bleed for 12 hours straight

+ Symptoms of infections, including headaches, muscle pain, dizziness or fatigue. Even if you do not have a fever, you may still have an infection.

+ Belly pain that cannot be eased, even with pain killers.

+ Hot flash or fever that lasts for more than 4 hours

+ Vomiting that lasts for up to 6 hours

+ Abnormal belly swelling or fast heart rate

+ Abnormal vaginal discharge

+ Genital discomfort

If your doctor suspects that your medical abortion has failed, you will be recommended a follow-up surgical abortion to avoid further complications.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.