Are you recovering from an abortion or considering the risks of the procedure? There’s a lot to consider. If you’ve recently had an abortion and suspect you might be suffering from a complication or you’re simply curious on what recovery looks like, read on to learn what signs to watch out for.
How Long Does it Take to Recover Physically?
Surgical Abortions
Abortion recovery depends on whether you have a surgical or medical procedure. Surgical abortions are performed in a clinic under anesthesia, and side effects like mild cramping, spotting, or light bleeding typically last a few days.
Medical Abortions
Medical abortions involve taking mifepristone to end the pregnancy and misoprostol to induce cramping and passage of pregnancy tissue, which may cause bleeding or spotting for several weeks, along with other temporary symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
WHAT IS AN INCOMPLETE ABORTION?
An incomplete abortion occurs when some of the fetal or pregnancy tissue is left inside the uterus after an abortion has been completed. Women who have had a medical abortion, or taken the abortion pill, are at greater risk of experiencing this complication.
For those considering an abortion, it should be noted that an incomplete abortion is one of the most common risks associated with abortion.
Symptoms of an incomplete abortion can vary from woman to woman, but the most documented signs include the following:
- Cramping
- Fever
- Lower back pain
- Pelvic pain
For the following symptoms, please contact 911 or seek emergency medical care immediately.
- Heavy prolonged bleeding
- Saturating a pad or tampon in less than an hour or
- Bleeding through another pad in the second hour
An incomplete abortion can cause severe infection and needs to be assessed as soon as possible by healthcare professionals.
Schedule a Post-Abortion Exam
At Hope Women’s Center, we offer no-cost post-abortion exams including physical assessments, sonograms, or lab work as needed. These services are provided by licensed medical professionals. Contact us today.
