How long it bleeds after abortion

Your doctor or other healthcare professional will administer the first pill. It breaks down the lining of your uterus so that a pregnancy can no longer grow. Some people start to bleed after this first pill. This pill causes your uterus to release its contents.

You may start to bleed within 30 minutes to 4 hours after you take it. This should happen 4 to 5 hours after you take the second pill, but it can take longer in some people. There will likely be a window of 1 to 2 hours where you notice heavier flow and possible clots passing.

This increase in flow should lessen after a couple of hours. Afterward, the bleeding should look more like a normal period. If you have a surgical abortion you might bleed immediately after. Or, you may not start bleeding until 3 to 5 days afterward. In general, the flow is lighter than a period-like flow. The bleeding may stop or continue until your next period. It if continues, it should get lighter over time. Some people find that the blood flow will stop and then start again.

The bleeding should taper off after a week or two. You may continue to have some light bleeding or spotting for a few weeks afterward, or until your next period. The bleeding should look similar to your periods, except the color may be more brown than red. Blood flow is typically heavier with a medical abortion than a surgical abortion. Certain activities can increase or decrease the amount of bleeding. You may notice blood clots.

The clots can range in size from small to large. Your next menstrual period should begin four to seven weeks after the procedure. You can get pregnant before then and should use birth control when you resume sexual intercourse. Your first few cycles may be irregular.

If you use a cyclic hormonal birth control method — such as the pill, patch or ring — you should start the method the same day as your procedure. Your next period will occur during the fourth week of the contraceptive cycle.

It's not necessary to see a doctor after your procedure, unless you experience complications. We recommend that you make an appointment to see your primary care doctor or gynecologist if you are due for an annual Pap smear, physical or gynecologic exam, need birth control prescription refills or would like to discuss your fertility. UCSF Health medical specialists have reviewed this information. It is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or other health care provider.

We encourage you to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your provider. Are you considering a medical versus surgical abortion? Find information here on suction curettage and medical abortions to help in making your decision. Medical Abortion. Surgical Abortion First Trimester. Surgical Abortion Second Trimester. Cramping, bleeding and spotting are common to experience for a few weeks post-abortion no matter which method you undergo, but if you feel too uncomfortable or anxious about your symptoms, you have a fever above Warning : Do not use tampons or menstrual cups during or after an abortion.

Also avoid sex and birth control methods that involve insertion for at least a week following an abortion, as you are at higher risk for infection. After a medical abortion, you could bleed anywhere from one day to an entire month.

The timing of the abortion how far into the pregnancy you were can affect the length of time you bleed, as generally the earlier the procedure, the less bleeding experienced. Whether it be a medical or surgical abortion, most women experience bleeding for weeks following the procedure, though it should decrease in volume the longer it continues certain activities, such as running or lifting, may cause you to bleed longer or heavier.

It is sometimes difficult to discern the color of menstrual blood from that of post-abortion bleeding since the color is fairly close. Generally, post-abortion bleeding will be darker and possibly even slightly brown. You also may notice blood clots, which tend to be much darker since the concentration is denser. Spotting may be tinged brown from the old blood which is completely normal. If you notice these symptoms, you should call your doctor.

An abortion resets your menstrual clock. Thus, you should expect your first period after an abortion to start approximately 4 weeks from that point. However, because each woman bleeds differently after an abortion, it can be difficult to distinguish between a period, spotting, or abnormal bleeding. Objective: To prospectively determine patterns and predictors of bleeding after early abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol or manual vacuum aspiration MVA. Methods: Women fewer than 63 days from the last menstrual period and desiring termination of pregnancy were offered medical abortion with mg oral mifepristone and micrograms oral misoprostol or MVA under local anesthesia.

Women completed a bleeding diary during the six weeks after abortion.