After Using Abortion Pills

There are two options for medical abortion – mifepristone and misoprostol or misoprostol alone. Both ways are very effective. What you might feel and experience after taking these abortion pills may differ.

1. What Might You Feel After Using The Abortion Pills?
2. What Are Signs Of Complication In A Medical Abortion?
After Use Pills

What Might You Feel After Using The Abortion Pills?

After You Take Mifepristone

Mifepristone may cause light bleeding. However, it’s also normal if no bleeding occurs.

After You Take Misoprostol

Cramping and bleeding are the main effects. These symptoms are useful because they show the medicines are working. But how much cramping and bleeding will you have?

For some, cramping is very strong – much more painful than menstrual cramps (if you have menstrual cramps).

For some, bleeding is heavier than a normal menstrual period. It is also common to pass blood clots in the first few hours after taking misoprostol. The size of the clots will vary depending on how far along the pregnancy was.

For others, cramping is mild and bleeding is like a normal menstrual period.

Do not be alarmed if you have more bleeding and cramping than a regular period.

If you experience bad cramping, ibuprofen is a good medicine to cope with pain. You can buy ibuprofen 200 mg strength over the counter (without a prescription) in most countries. Take 3-4 pills (200 mg) every 6-8 hours. This should make you feel better.

You can drink and eat as you like.

Try to stay in a comfortable place until you feel better.

You should feel better in less than 24 hours.

Note:

3-4 weeks after your abortion, a pregnancy test will likely turn negative. Sometimes the test can still be positive due to lingering hormones in your body, and in some cases this can remain positive for up to 6 weeks. If you continue to feel pregnancy symptoms (have breast tenderness, nausea, fatigue, etc.) after using the pills, have an ultrasound to check if the abortion was successful.

Symptoms After Taking Abortion Pills & Abortion Pill Side Effects

While passing a pregnancy, the above symptoms are normal. Be alert. Below are some signs that you may be at risk for a complication.

Heavy bleeding.

If you soak 2 regular pads per hour for 2 hours in a row after you think you have passed the pregnancy, this is 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 through-and-through.

Intense pain.

If you have extreme pain that does not get better even after you take the ibuprofen, seek medical help. This kind of extreme pain may mean that you could have a complication related to your pregnancy. Unresolved pain that is not relieved by ibuprofen can be a danger sign. We suggest anybody suffering pain to seek medical care.

Feeling very sick.

You may have a fever, nausea and vomiting the day you take misoprostol. This is normal. You should feel better and better each day after using abortion pills. You should not feel sick. If you feel more sick any day after you use misoprostol, you should seek medical attention.

Authors:

  • All content featured on this website is written by the HowToUseAbortionPill.org team in compliance with standards and protocols from The National Abortion Federation, Ipas, the World Health Organization, DKT International and carafem.
  • The National Abortion Federation (NAF) is the professional association of abortion providers in North America, and a leader in the pro-choice movement. Content on HowToUseAbortionPill.org is aligned with the 2020 Clinical Policy Guidelines released by NAF.
  • Ipas is the only international organization solely focused on expanding access to safe abortion and contraceptive care. Content on HowToUseAbortionPill.org is aligned with the Clinical Updates In Reproductive Health 2019 released by Ipas.
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Content on HowToUseAbortionPill.org is aligned with the 2012 Safe abortion: technical and policy guidance for health systems released by WHO.
  • DKT International is a registered, non-profit organization founded in 1989 to focus the power of social marketing on some of the largest countries with the greatest needs for family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention and safe abortion.
  • carafem is a clinic network providing convenient and professional abortion care and family planning so people can control the number and spacing of their children.

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