Whether you have a surgical or medication abortion, some amount of bleeding is to be expected. However, hemorrhaging or heavy bleeding can be indicative of a more significant condition that requires medical attention, such as an incomplete abortion.

Read this article to learn more about what causes these symptoms and how to measure what’s normal versus what’s cause for concern.

What Causes Post-Abortive Bleeding?

For the abortion pill method, the two drugs end the pregnancy and induce uterine cramping to expel the pregnancy and tissue, which also comes with bleeding.

With a surgical abortion, there is minimal bleeding, and it may not even appear until several days after the abortion. If there is bleeding, this is likely due to any suction or scraping of the uterine wall that led to some trauma to the uterine lining, causing bleeding.

How Do I Know if Something is Wrong?

Everyone’s experience is different, but if you are bleeding heavily enough that you have to change a pad every hour, then you should seek immediate medical attention.

Free Post-Abortion Exam

If you are experiencing an abnormal amount of bleeding, you should seek medical help right away. 

Whether you are considering an abortion or have already had the procedure, we can help you at Hope Women’s Center with a free post-abortion exam.

If you’re currently pregnant, we offer no-cost pregnancy testing and ultrasounds, which provide details such as pregnancy gestational age (how many weeks you have been pregnant) and viability (if the pregnancy is developing normally). These details are helpful because they can affect your eligibility for specific procedures and allow you to make an informed decision.

In our post-abortion exams, we may perform lab studies, general health exams, and a physical and sonographic exam so that you can have confidence about your health.

Next Steps

No matter where you are on your journey, we can help you with practical resources. We are a safe space to get information and discuss your situation. Contact us today!