If you are currently recovering from an abortion or considering the risks involved in the procedure, there are several important factors to take into consideration. Regardless of your situation, being well-informed about the signs that warrant attention is crucial.
Keep reading to learn more about what warning signs to watch out for if you’ve had an abortion or are considering one.
How Long Does it Take to Recover Physically?
Your recovery time after abortion will depend on whether you undergo a surgical or medical abortion.
Surgical Abortion
Surgical abortion is performed in a clinic, and it involves dilating the cervix so that medical instruments can enter the uterus to terminate and remove the pregnancy.
Side effects include cramping, spotting, or light bleeding that lasts a few days on average. However, you might also experience a physical risk, which can be severe and include:
- Uterine perforation/scarring
- Cervical damage
- Infection
Experiencing an abortion risk puts your health in danger and inevitably lengthens your recovery time.
Medical Abortion
Medical abortion involves taking mifepristone to end the pregnancy, followed by the use of misoprostol to induce cramping and expel the terminated pregnancy from the uterus.
As a result, you will experience bleeding or spotting for several weeks, along with other temporary symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
However, it’s essential to know that the abortion drugs are powerful and associated with potentially serious risks which include:
- Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion
- An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work
- Heavy and prolonged bleeding
- Infection
- Fever
- Digestive system discomfort
What if I have an incomplete abortion?
An incomplete abortion occurs when parts of the pregnancy remain in the uterus after an abortion. This is a serious complication that can quickly lead to infection.
Symptoms of an incomplete abortion can include:
- Heavy bleeding — soaking two or more pads an hour for two hours
- Severe abdominal or back pain
- Fever lasting more than 24 hours
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
If you recently had an abortion and are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s essential to seek emergency medical treatment immediately.
How Will I Feel After an Abortion?
While some women may physically recover quickly after an abortion, it can take longer to heal emotionally. Many women who have an abortion report feelings of low self-esteem, depression, and other signs of elevated mental health struggles.
If you’ve had or are considering a pregnancy termination, we offer free counseling at Pregnancy Options Miami, where you can learn more about your pregnancy and available options and be able to process what you are thinking or feeling.
We are here to support you; you are not alone! Contact us today to learn about our post-abortion care.