By Sneha Nair

Abortions are common. Abortions are normal. Abortions are lifesaving.
Despite this, moral and legal barriers continue to be a hindrance to access. When looking up abortion information online, it’s important to know which sources to trust. A study from 2010 highlighted how 35% of sexual health websites contained invalid information, mostly on abortions.

Before we dive into what happens to the body after an abortion with pills, let’s look into some facts about the road before that.

Delayed Menstrual Cycle. Pregnancy Tests & Detecting Early Symptoms

The most common and widely known symptom of pregnancy is a missed menstrual cycle. If you’ve had unprotected sex and you’re late by a few days (this is assuming that you’re on a cycle that tends to be regular), an at-home pregnancy test would be a good place to start. These tests are available at your local pharmacy or health centre. Depending on when you last ovulated, for most people, the test will show positive within a week of the first day of your missed period. This pregnancy calculator should help you determine if your pregnancy is still viable to have an abortion with pills.

Early pregnancy symptoms vary from person to person. But generally speaking, common symptoms include

  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Swollen, tender breasts
  • Bloating
  • Increased urination
  • Appetite changes

Side note: Light spotting is also noticed in early pregnancy symptoms. It’s natural to mistake it for a menstrual period. If the menstrual flow seems unusual for the first day of the menstrual cycle, consider taking an at-home pregnancy test to be sure.

What Should I Expect After?

Abortions with pills are one of the safest and most effective medical procedures and also the preferred method of termination for unintended pregnancies up to 13 weeks. The suggested protocol for an abortion with pills is either a combination of misoprostol and mifepristone or misoprostol only. Our safe abortion chatbot Ally has extensive information on how you can use either the combination method or misoprostol only. Alternatively, you can also watch our video series for accurate information and depiction of the abortion with pills process.
Pregnancies over 13 weeks may require a process different from HowtoUse’s protocol or a different method of termination. In this case, our sisters at safe2choose can provide support for a safe abortion, or if possible, you can seek support from a trained medical provider close to you.

After taking the abortion pills, most people experience cramping, bleeding, and side effects like nausea or chills. These are normal and show the pills are working. For some, the cramping is severe, while some relate it to something similar to menstrual cramps. Note that cramping and bleeding are considered a sign of the abortion pills working.

Complications are rare but include heavy bleeding, severe pain, and fever after 24 hours. Always listen to your body and seek medical help if you notice warning signs.

But listen to your body

If you find yourself running through menstrual pads at an alarming rate, play safe and seek immediate medical care from a trained provider.
If you soak two regular pads per hour for two hours in a row after you think you have passed the pregnancy, this is considered very heavy bleeding. You should seek medical help if you bleed this much. Soaking means that the pad is completely soaked through with blood, front-to-back, side-to-side, and all the way through.

Here’s a visual cue on how much bleeding is too much bleeding. If you find yourself “flooding” and feeling weaker, get immediate help to be on the safer side.

Bleeding after an abortion with pills

Image credit: https://www.bpas.org/abortion-care/abortion-aftercare/

If the bleeding is under control and manageable, consider taking medication for the cramping. An over-the-counter pain-relieving medication like ibuprofen should help ease the pain.

You’ll know your abortion is complete when the bleeding reduces considerably. The possible nausea, fever, and cramping should also have reduced within the week of taking the pills.

A general feeling of tiredness might still linger depending on how you bled. If possible, consider taking a few days off and resting till you start feeling more energetic.

Your menstrual cycle should return in about four to six weeks after the medical abortion.

Side note: Pregnancy hormones may still remain in the body up to two weeks after an abortion. This means that testing for pregnancy during this period might give you a positive result. We advise that you wait for four to six weeks for blood and urine tests and 2 weeks for an ultrasound for accurate results. However, if you continue feeling symptoms of pregnancy as stated above or there was light or no bleeding when you took the abortion pills, seek medical advice.

How to recognize complications after an abortion with pills

It’s only natural to feel anxious about what feels right and what should be considered a red flag during the medical abortion process. In most cases, a medical abortion is nothing to worry about. But being informed will only help you feel more confident about your decision.

Here’s what you need to look out for after a medical abortion:

  • “Flooding” or heavy bleeding (refer to image above for visual cue)—if you’re fully soaking through 2 menstrual pads in an hour for 2 hours in a row.
  • A fever that lasts over a day
  • Worsening cramps—a severe pain in your pelvic region that doesn’t seem to reduce
  • If you still continue to feel the above-stated symptoms of pregnancy
  • If you haven’t gotten your period 8 weeks post-abortion

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms. You may need another dosage of the pills or a surgical abortion instead. To find out more about your country’s abortion laws alongside information and resources on where you could seek additional support, visit our country profile section.

There is no one way to feel after an abortion. Some feel relieved and happy, while some feel sad; all feelings are valid and understandable. If you find yourself in need of some outside help, separate from friends and family, consider post-abortion counselling. It should help in aligning your emotions and help you move on.

Remember that you’ve done what’s best for you, your health, and your well-being. And that’s what matters.