If you are thinking about taking the abortion pill, or you have already started the process, you may be unsure how much bleeding to expect and at what point it signals a problem.
Every medical abortion involves bleeding, but the amount varies from woman to woman, and heavy bleeding is one of its recognized risks. Knowing the warning signs ahead of time helps you act quickly.
New Beginnings Pregnancy Center offers free, confidential pregnancy services to help you learn important facts about your pregnancy and understand your options. Contact us today to get more information, and keep reading to learn what you should know about bleeding during medical abortion.
How the Abortion Pill Works
A medical abortion involves two drugs taken in sequence.
Mifepristone blocks progesterone, a hormone that helps the pregnancy develop. Without progesterone, the uterine lining thins, and the pregnancy detaches and ends.
Misoprostol follows 24 to 48 hours later and triggers strong abdominal cramping that pushes the pregnancy out through vaginal bleeding.
The FDA only recommends the drugs used in a medical abortion through the first ten weeks of pregnancy.
What Bleeding Is Expected
Once misoprostol takes effect, bleeding is typically heavier than a menstrual period and may include clots and pieces of tissue.
The heaviest bleeding usually lasts one to two days, then tapers over the following two to three weeks. Using pads instead of tampons makes it easier to track how much you are bleeding.
When Bleeding Is Too Much
Heavy and prolonged bleeding is among the risks of medical abortion. Since most women complete the process at home, you may be the first to notice a problem.
Contact a medical provider or go to the emergency room immediately if you experience:
- Soaking through two or more pads an hour for two hours in a row
- A fast heartbeat, dizziness, or fainting
- Severe pain in your abdomen or pelvis
- Fever, chills, or body aches
- Bleeding that stays heavy for days instead of slowing down
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
Heavy bleeding often points to an incomplete abortion, meaning pregnancy tissue is still in the uterus.
Complications of an incomplete abortion include hemorrhage that may require a blood transfusion, infection, and sepsis. Surgery is sometimes needed to remove the remaining tissue and control the bleeding.
Why an Ultrasound Matters Before You Decide
An ultrasound scan before attempting a medical abortion provides three facts that directly affect your health and safety.
First, it accurately determines the gestational age of the pregnancy, which ensures you are within the first ten weeks recommended by the FDA. If your pregnancy is further along than ten weeks, a surgical abortion would be necessary.
Second, an ultrasound confirms the pregnancy is in the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy grows outside the uterus and can rupture and cause severe internal bleeding. The abortion pill cannot treat an ectopic pregnancy; rather, immediate medical intervention is required to protect your health.
Third, it verifies whether the pregnancy is developing. As many as 26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, which may require medical follow-up. A pregnancy ending naturally is different from an elective abortion.
We Are Here for You
New Beginnings Pregnancy Center provides free lab-quality pregnancy testing and limited ultrasounds.
Our medical personnel will review your results with you to help you understand your options.
Contact us today to schedule your free, confidential appointment.
New Beginnings Pregnancy Center does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.