After Abortion
Care
After Abortion Care
After Abortion Care & Support near Norwich? You’re Not Alone. We’re Here For You.
Get Answers at Pathways (860) 222-4505
After-abortion Care
Many women have concerns about their health following an abortion. It is important to understand what symptoms to expect and how to take care of yourself after an abortion. Your doctor or clinic should provide you with specific abortion after-care instructions.
Taking Care Of Yourself After An Abortion
- Drink water and healthy fluids.
- Eat healthy food.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Avoid strenuous exercise and lifting heavy objects for at least one week.
- Take any antibiotics you were given for the full number of days prescribed.
- Avoid vaginal insertions for at least two weeks, including sex and tampons.
Call your doctor if you are concerned about any symptoms you are having.
Complications: Warning Signs
Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms after an abortion:
- Heavy bleeding or passing large clots (larger than golf ball size).
- Bleeding that lasts more than 14 days.
- Fever over 100 degrees.
- Abdominal pain that is worse than a normal period.
- Signs of infection such as achiness and general feeling of illness.
- Vomiting that lasts more than 4 hours.
- Sudden abdominal swelling or rapid heart rate.
- Vaginal discharge that has increased in amount or smells bad.
- Pain, redness or swelling in the genital area.
If you have any of the above after an abortion, seek emergency medical care immediately.
After Abortion Care & Support near Norwich? You’re Not Alone. We’re Here For You.
Get Answers at Pathways (860) 222-4505
Physical Effects
Your doctor or clinic should provide you with specific abortion after-care instructions. Most women experience some of the following after an abortion:
- Bleeding – on average bleeding lasts 14 days but can last up to 21 days. 1
- Cramping
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Nausea/Vomiting
These symptoms typically resolve within a week but may take longer. If symptoms persist or become severe, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor.
One of the most common complications associated with abortion is infection. This can be caused by incomplete abortion or exposure to bacteria vaginally, such as by having sex too soon. You can reduce the risk of infection by waiting to have sex and using pads instead of tampons.
Symptoms of infections include strong-smelling vaginal discharge, fever, and severe pelvic pain. Untreated infections can result in pelvic inflammatory disease, so call your doctor for treatment as soon as you notice symptoms.
Other potential complications that a woman may experience after an abortion include:
- Incomplete or failed abortion, in which the fetus is still viable or was not fully evacuated from the womb. This can cause serious medical complications.
- Uterine perforation, which has symptoms of severe abdominal pain, bleeding, and fever.
- Septic shock, which has symptoms that include fever, chills, abdominal pain, and low blood pressure.
Your doctor or clinic should provide you with specific abortion after-care instructions. Most women experience some of the following after an abortion:
- Bleeding – on average bleeding lasts 14 days but can last up to 21 days. 1
- Cramping
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Nausea/Vomiting
These symptoms typically resolve within a week but may take longer. If symptoms persist or become severe, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor.
One of the most common complications associated with abortion is infection. This can be caused by incomplete abortion or exposure to bacteria vaginally, such as by having sex too soon. You can reduce the risk of infection by waiting to have sex and using pads instead of tampons.
Symptoms of infections include strong-smelling vaginal discharge, fever, and severe pelvic pain. Untreated infections can result in pelvic inflammatory disease, so call your doctor for treatment as soon as you notice symptoms.
Other potential complications that a woman may experience after an abortion include:
- Incomplete or failed abortion, in which the fetus is still viable or was not fully evacuated from the womb. This can cause serious medical complications.
- Uterine perforation, which has symptoms of severe abdominal pain, bleeding, and fever.
- Septic shock, which has symptoms that include fever, chills, abdominal pain, and low blood pressure.
- Some symptoms can indicate an emergency complication stemming from your abortion. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical care:
- fever
- excessively heavy bleeding (as discussed above)
- strong-smelling vaginal discharge
- chills
- severe abdominal pain
Sex After Abortion
After both types of abortion procedures, it’s typically advised that you wait about two weeks before having sex or inserting anything vaginally. This reduces the risk of serious infections and is an important part of post-abortion care.
If you have unprotected sex following an abortion, call your doctor or local clinic and ask what measures you can take to prevent pregnancy.
If you suddenly experience sharp pain during sex after an abortion, call your local clinic for advice. If they believe it’s not an emergency, they may still schedule you for a follow-up.
After Abortion Care & Support near Norwich? You’re Not Alone. We’re Here For You.
Get Answers at Pathways (860) 222-4505
Emotional Effects
Research suggests that women who have had abortions may be at increased risk for mental health problems. 2 Some women report symptoms like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 3 Some of those post-abortion symptoms may include:
- Regret
- Grief
- Sadness/Depression
- Anxiety
- Guilt/Shame
- Suicidal thoughts
Contact us for a referral to a licensed counselor if you are experiencing any of the above post-abortion symptoms. It is important for your health that you do not ignore any negative feelings you may have. The National Hotline for Abortion Recovery is also available to assist you via phone: 866-482-5433 or visit aaplog.org/post-abortion-healing/ for more recovery resources.
Questions & Answers
(860) 222-4505 or schedule an appointment online.
You will meet with our professionals to go over your information and a lab-quality pregnancy test will be administered. With a positive pregnancy test result, we offer referrals for ultrasound to confirm a living, intrauterine pregnancy.
All our services are provided free of charge.
Absolutely, you can bring your boyfriend, family member or friend. We will talk with you privately first. Then provided you have given us consent to have them in the room, your guest will be able to join you.
We adhere to a strict privacy and confidentiality policy. Clients will be protected from disclosure of information that violates their right to privacy except where required by law, required for public health reasons, required to avert a threat of harm to the client or a third person, or when other circumstances may reasonably warrant such use or disclosure without prior authorization (e.g., abuse reporting, suicide/homicide prevention, etc.)
