An abortion terminates an existing pregnancy but usually does not affect your normal menstrual cycle or the potential for future pregnancies. After an abortion, your body begins your regular menstrual cycle over again. 

According to experts, your normal menstrual cycle should return within four to six weeks after a medical abortion. If you have a regular cycle (every 28 days), you can expect to ovulate around the 14th day, making it possible to get pregnant again in as early as two weeks. 

What Happens In an Abortion?

When you have an abortion, either with abortion drugs or surgery, the process removes the pregnancy and tissue in your uterus. All abortions involve bleeding and cramping as your body expels everything through the vagina. 

Although every woman reacts differently to an abortion, you can expect to bleed anywhere from several days to a few weeks.

There is the Possibility of an Incomplete Abortion

Not all abortions go as smoothly as a woman would like. Sometimes, there are complications. One complication is an incomplete abortion, which is also known as retained products of conception. 

Although the abortion method terminates the pregnancy, not all of the pregnancy tissue leaves the body. Some of the tissue remains in the uterus.

Symptoms of an incomplete abortion include the following:

• Heavy and irregular bleeding (including blood clots).
• Enlarged and tender uterus.
• Fever.
• Pelvic pain.
• Infection.
• Missed menstrual period.

A follow-up meeting with your abortion or healthcare provider is essential to determine if your abortion was complete.

Visit Anderson House for Free and Confidential Pregnancy Services

Anderson House provides free, lab-quality pregnancy tests. If your test is positive, we can also refer you for a free ultrasound. 

Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we can offer factual, medically based information about abortion procedures, the side effects to expect, and the potential physical and emotional risks. An abortion is a major medical decision, and you owe it to yourself to get the facts first.

Schedule a free and confidential appointment at your nearest Anderson House location. We’re here for you.

All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.