People believe that abortion does not threaten your fertility or cause any complications related to subsequent pregnancies. However, recent research has said that there are some potential side effects of abortion that you may suffer from.
Your body after an abortion?
Depending on your general health, the symptoms can vary between people. Normal symptoms that most women experience after a surgical abortion can include:
- Irregular bleeding or spotting for the first 2 weeks
- Cramping pain caused by uterine contractions for the first 2 weeks. Some women may have cramps for as long as 6 weeks
- Emotional reactions for 2 to 3 weeks
- Vaginal bleeding during early pregnancy
- Infections which may be caused by retained placenta
- Nausea or vomiting.
Moreover, a surgical abortion can increase the risk of:
- Preterm birth (giving birth after a short pregnancy)
- Low child birth weight
- Placenta problems
When should you call your doctor?
Call your doctor immediately if the following symptoms appear:
- Severe bleeding. Surgical abortions usually cause bleeding that is different from a normal menstrual period (heavy bleeding for 12 hours in a row)
- Headaches, muscle aches, dizziness, or a general feeling of illness. Severe infection is possible without fever
- Sharp pain in the belly after taking pain medicine
- Fever of 38°C or higher
- Vomiting lasts more than 4 to 6 hours
- Sudden belly swelling or rapid heart rate
- Vaginal discharge that has increased in amount or smells bad
- Pain, swelling, or redness in the genital area
How to take care of yourself after abortion?
Carefully check with your doctor’s advice and ask for what you can do for the best recovery. Here is some useful information that you can consider:
- Ease back into your normal routine 1 to 2 days after the surgery. Attempt to avoid strenuous exercise for 1 week
- Do not have sexual intercourse for a short time, check with your health care provider for the specific information based on your condition
- Use birth control methods to prevent infection when you start having intercourse again
- Do not clean the vagina with fluids (douche). This could lead to pelvic infections
If you’ve had an abortion and are concerned about the possible impact on your health and subsequent pregnancies, check with your doctor. Your doctor can help educate you on the potential risks, as well as work out the best solution for you.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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