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Post-Abortion Information

by Aksana Nikolai

Overview

The term abortion refers to terminating a pregnancy. The two types of abortion are medical and surgical. Medical abortion involves taking mifepristone in order to thin out the womb, while a surgical abortion is achieved by removing the fetus and placenta from the womb. Regardless of which procedure a woman undergoes, abortion can be a traumatic experience. Successful recovery involves proper physical and emotional aftercare for the woman, and sometimes for her partner as well.
Physical Symptoms

A range of symptoms are common in women after an abortion. Some women experience cramping that is, in some cases, more intense than menstrual cramping. Others experience bleeding or spotting that lasts between three and six weeks. They may also produce small blood clots. However, in some women, no bleeding at all occurs post abortion. A woman's normal menstrual cycle should resume within four to eight weeks after the procedure. In some cases, women experience a change in color and heaviness of their flow.

Aftercare

A woman should measure her temperature during every day of the first week following an abortion. Fever can be a sign of a developing infection and women whose temperature exceeds 100.4 degrees should seek medical help. All women should schedule a checkup appointment with the clinic at which the procedure was done or with their referring physician. The checkup should take place two to three weeks after the abortion, regardless of whether the woman is still experiencing bleeding.
Warning

For the first one or two weeks following the abortion, women should not perform strenuous exercise such as aerobics or running and lifting more than 15 pounds. While it is safe to shower, they should avoid taking baths and swimming during this initial period, as well as having intercourse and douching. A woman should use tampons only once four to eight weeks has passed after the abortion and her normal menstrual cycle has resumed.
Emotional Effects

Many women and men alike experience a variety of emotions as a result of an abortion, examples of which include grief, guilt and self-hatred. Some men also experience feelings of loss of control or pride following an abortion, particularly if the pregnancy was aborted without their knowledge. Men are more likely to mute their feelings about the abortion and may turn to substance and sex abuse in an attempt to cope.
Effect on Relationships

It is not uncommon for relationships, particularly unmarried ones, to end following an abortion. Those relationships that survive are often characterized by sexual dysfunction and lack of intimacy as a result. Emotional connections can be strained due to feelings of anger, depression and hostility, which are particularly common in women and girls who were coerced to have an abortion. Additional consequences include inability to form a strong bond with children, as well as abuse of future children in severe cases.