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Periods After Abortion First Cycle, Delay, Pain & Flow Changes
The feeling of terminating a pregnancy can feel overwhelming. And, it’s completely fine. Just take a deep breath and be kind and patient with yourself. You have been through a lot emotionally and physically.
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Having a mix of emotions, or no emotions at all, is completely normal, and you are not alone in feeling this way. Also, your body is completely fine and healing to get back to normal.
A woman may have her own reasons to terminate the pregnancy, including the child’s health or her own health. Yet, getting an abortion done is always hard for a woman. And one of the immediate questions that follows is how soon after an abortion can you get pregnant? Can periods be irregular after abortion?
Before delving deep into the period cycle after abortion, let’s begin with understanding how our menstrual cycle responds to abortion.
Table of Contents
What happens to your body after an abortion?
Abortion is a common and safe procedure to terminate the pregnancy up to a certain no of weeks of gestation. Abortion procedures are governed by the guidelines laid out in the MTP Act 1971. Whether medical abortion or surgical abortion, the moment pregnancy ends, the hormones in your body begin to change. As the pregnancy hormone(progesterone) levels decrease, your body begins to prepare to return to the natural menstrual cycle.
- Immediately after the abortion, your body might experience minor bleeding and spotting. This is a normal part of the recovery and can last for a few days or weeks. Do not confuse this with having a period.
- Hormonal fluctuations are normal after an abortion. Do not feel emotional about it, as this is temporary.
- Also, if your pregnancy was more than 9 weeks, you must have undergone a surgical abortion, where the uterus needs extra time to recover.
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How does abortion affect the menstrual cycle?
The menstrual cycle after the abortion depends on how quickly the hormone levels settle. An advocacy group, called Planned Parenthood, suggests that a person usually has their first period within 4-8 weeks after an abortion. However, the cycle can be a little shorter or longer, depending on your hormonal cycle.
An abortion restarts the menstrual cycle as it empties the uterus. The beginning of the first period also depends on the fact that whether the patient is using birth control or not, and if so, then, which type. If you are not taking the birth control medications, you should get your period by 8 weeks. Consult a doctor if the timeline is exceeded by more than 8 weeks.
When to expect your first period after an abortion?
Usually, a woman gets their first period after 4-8 weeks of abortion. But it may differ depending on the following factors.
- The more the far you were in your pregnancy, the longer it may take your body may take to get back to normal
- Whether your periods were irregular or if the cycle length was normal before abortion also affects the menstrual cycle.
- Beginning with the hormonal contraception immediately after the abortion may delay the periods, too.
- Post-abortion stress syndrome(PASS) is normal after an abortion. It can lead to hormonal imbalance and affect the menstrual cycle temporarily.
What to expect from the first period after an abortion?
If you have had a medical abortion, the first period may last longer. However, first period after surgical abortion may be shorter.
Characteristics
- First periods after a medical abortion are usually heavier as the body has to remove all of the extra tissues from your uterus. Sometimes you may also pass some tiny blood clots.
- On the other hand, the first periods after a surgical abortion are usually lighter. Within a few months, they get regulated naturally.
- Irregular. 1st periods after an abortion may be irregular, especially when you were on birth control pills or experiencing significant stress.
- Severe cramps. A woman may feel intense and more severe cramps, or may not feel anything at all.
- Changes in the colour of the blood. The presence of small clots or darker colored blood is common after an abortion.
Other symptoms
You may experience severe menstrual cramps during the first few periods after an abortion. Other symptoms include,
- Bloating
- Breast tenderness
- Headaches
- Muscle pain
- Mood swings
- Fatigue and tiredness
Depending on what your doctor may suggest, you may use sanitary pads, menstrual cups, and tampons for at least 2 weeks. After a timeline of 2 weeks, your body may get back to its normal period routine.
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After Abortion My Period Is Irregular, Is This Normal?
Yes. Irregular periods after abortion are extremely common, especially during the first 1–3 months.
You may notice:
- Early or late cycles
- Spotting between periods
- Variation in menstrual flow
- Shorter or longer periods
- A missed menstrual cycle
Contact a doctor if you don’t get a period for 8 weeks after an abortion, and you have severe pain or fever
These could indicate infection or hormonal imbalance.
What if my period is delayed after an abortion?
If you don’t get your period after 8 weeks of an abortion, don’t panic. There are some common reasons behind the delayed period.
- Hormonal imbalance. The hormones may still be adjusting after the abortion. They can take some time to return to the pre-pregnancy levels.
- Emotional stress. Excessive levels of stress can lead to anxiety and depression. It can significantly affect the menstrual cycle, especially after an abortion.
- Birth control pills prevent ovulation, fertilisation, or implantation, and they may affect the timing of your period.
When to see a doctor for your periods after abortion
In most cases, periods return without causing any major issues. However, certain signs and symptoms require you to see a doctor.
- No periods after 8 weeks
You must consult a doctor if you don't experience periods after 8 weeks of your abortion.
- Excessive bleeding
If you have to change the pad or tampon every hour, consult a doctor immediately.
- Severe pain
If you experience extreme pain that doesn’t get better with the pain-killer medications, then you should consult a doctor.
- Foul-smelling discharge
A strong foul odour from your vaginal discharge may indicate a sign of infection and necessitate consulting a doctor.
Conclusion
Feeling uncertain about your body and experiencing a few changes is completely normal after the abortion. And it’s completely okay to wait for your period to come. And the good news is that the body takes its own time to heal and get back to a normal cycle. So, don’t stress out if the menstrual cycle is taking a little longer than expected. Trust the process, and if you have any concerns, our compassionate and expert care is just a click away. Good luck!
FAQs
- How many weeks after abortion will I get my period?
Usually, a woman gets her first period after 4-8 weeks of the abortion. Several other factors, such as your natural cycle length, whether you have started with contraception pills, and the pregnancy length, can also affect the timing of your periods.
- Is it normal to have irregular periods after abortion?
Yes. Irregular and abnormal periods after abortion are completely normal. You may experience a difference in the length of the periods, menstrual flow, and stomach cramps due to hormonal fluctuations and an imbalance in the stress hormones.
- What to expect in the first period after an abortion?
Heavy bleeding in first period after abortion is common if you have undergone a medical abortion. It is because the body needs to remove all of the extra tissue from the uterus. However, if you have undergone the surgical procedure, the 1st period after an abortion may be lighter.
- How long will my periods last after abortion?
A woman may experience heavy bleeding period after abortion, similar to the menstrual cycle, for 1-2 weeks. Fatigue, nausea, dizziness, cramping, and abdominal pain are a few of the common symptoms experienced after an abortion.
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