When having a medical abortion, it is important that you understand the treatment and aftercare to be well informed and prepared. There are six takeaways you need to know about during and after a medical abortion that will be summarised in this blog.
1. Be prepared: have pain relief and menstrual products ready at home
Most people will have significant cramping pain and will find pain relief helpful. If pain is severe, this is usually short lived and is relieved when the pregnancy passes. Be prepared by having pain relief and menstrual products to use at home.
Pain relief should be taken before you take the misoprostol, or if preferred when you start to feel cramps building up. Pain relief options include Ibuprofen, Paracetamol and Codeine. Always follow the instructions on the box for any medication taken. Do not take any medication that you have a known allergy to or have been told not to take by a healthcare professional. A hot water bottle, heat pack or bath can also be really helpful. For detailed advice on pain relief, click here.
You can use any menstrual products during and after the medical abortion, but using period pads is easier to track and monitor your bleeding. On days your bleeding is heavy, we recommend wearing a suitable pad such as the thick maternity ones.
If you use tampons or menstrual cups, please consider using period pads instead for 48 hours after taking the second tablets (misoprostol), as this will help you monitor your bleeding. If you decide to use tampons or menstrual cups, please ensure you change them regularly.
2. Always take the extra course of misoprostol unless you’re 100% sure you have passed the pregnancy
Misoprostol in the second type of medication you take as part of a medical abortion. If you access care with MSI UK, your medical abortion pack will include a pack of 4 misoprostol tablets and an extra pack of 2 misoprostol tablets.
When taking the first 4 tablets of misoprostol, you will place all 4 tablets either vaginally, or in your mouth between your gum and cheek.
After completing this step, you should wait 3 hours to take the 2 extra tablets of misoprostol. You should always take these tablets, unless you are 100% sure that you have already passed all the pregnancy within that time.
3. Pain and bleeding may start up to 48 hours after taking misoprostol
Everybody is different, but the abortion usually starts within a few hours. Pain and bleeding may start up to 48 hours after taking the extra two misoprostol tablets.
If you have very little or no bleeding by 48 hours after taking the second pills (misoprostol), it is possible the medical abortion has not worked so please call our 24-hour aftercare line on 0345 122 1441 to speak to a healthcare professional.
4. It can take up to 2 weeks to fully pass the pregnancy tissue
Everybody is different, but the abortion usually starts within a few hours and is usually completed within 1-2 days. Occasionally, it can take up to 2 weeks to fully pass all the pregnancy tissue, and you may continue to bleed for up to 8 weeks.
Once the pregnancy has been passed, both the pain and bleeding will usually reduce.
5. Wait 3 weeks after the abortion before taking the pregnancy test
It is important that you take the pregnancy test included in the medical abortion pack 3 weeks after you have taken the misoprostol tablets.
Please use the pregnancy test we have provided as it is different to the shop-bought tests. The pregnancy hormone can be present for up to two months after an abortion. This means that a shop-bought pregnancy test may remain positive for up to two months, even though you are no longer pregnant, which is why you need to use the special one we provide.
If your pregnancy test is positive, call our 24-hour aftercare line and we will discuss what to do next.
6. Following an abortion, your fertility will return almost immediately
An egg can be released from the ovary as soon as 5 days after your treatment so you could become pregnant again before your next period.
If you would like to start a method of contraception following your abortion, we offer a range of contraceptive methods to suit your individual needs. You will be able to access our contraception services for 6 months following your treatment.
Find out more about accessing contraception care after an abortion with us here.
If you ever feel worried or have any questions, call our 24-hour aftercare line on 0345 122 1441 to speak to a healthcare professional.
Useful links
To read more about medical abortion treatment and aftercare, click on the links below:
