Abortion aftercare

WHAT SYMPTOMS SHOULD I BE WORRIED ABOUT?
PLEASE SEEK URGENT ATTENTION IF YOU:
•  Soak 2 big sanitary pads an hour, for 2 hours.
•  Have pain that is not getting better with regular pain relief.
•  Feel your bleeding is very smelly.
•  Have a temperature or fever of 38 degrees or higher.
•  Have diarrhoea, vomiting or weakness 
•  Are worried about any of your symptoms
CAN I GET PREGNANT AGAIN?
There is no proven association between induced abortion and subsequent ectopic, placenta praevia or infertility, nor does it increase the risk of breast cancer. There is a small associated risk of subsequent premature birth, which increases with the number of abortions.
 
We see women who have become pregnant 2 weeks after an abortion, so it is important to start contraception immediately. Talk to us so that we can help you to get your contraception in place.
 
We advise you to wait for the bleeding to stop, which is normally about two weeks after treatment, before having sex. This can help reduce the risk of infection.
when can i go back to work?
Most women feel able to go back to work quickly after an abortion, others like to take a few days to recover. It will depend on how you feel, what kind of job you have and when you feel ready. Remember, you should not drive or operate machinery for 48 hours following a general anaesthetic.
when will my next period come?
This can vary but most women have their next period around 4-6 weeks after the treatment
what hygiene information do i need to know?
Bath and shower as normal (be careful if you had a general anaesthetic). Use sanitary pads and not tampons until your next period. We recommend you don’t go swimming until the bleeding settles.
why can't i wear tampons?
We don’t want you to get an infection after your abortion, and although there is no evidence that tampons will cause this, we suggest that as a precaution, sanitary pads are better for this bleeding. You can use tampons with your following period.
do i need a post treatment check?
If you had the medical abortion (tablets), you will need to repeat the pregnancy test in 2 weeks to ensure that your treatment has been successful.
 
If you had a surgical abortion, you should not normally need a check up unless you have concerns.
what happens if i pass the pregnancy in hospital?
Our usual practice is for pregnancy remains to be included in a shared cremation at the local crematorium. This normally happens about 4 weeks after your visit to hospital. Please ask us if you want more information.
 
If you do not want us to carry out a shared cremation and would like to make your own arrangements, please tell the nurse at your hospital visit, or call us to discuss it further.
how will i feel afterwards?
Everyone will have an individual experience when it comes to their emotions after an abortion, for some women these can be quite strong, for others it may be less so. Whatever emotions you feel, be reassured that these are completely normal, and there will be other women who have been in your position, feeling exactly the same as you. From our experience, women can feel a whole host of emotions including feelings of relief, guilt and sadness. If you have someone you can talk to about your experience and your feelings, this often helps. We normally suggest that you take a few weeks after your treatment to allow your feelings to settle. If you find though that things are a little difficult, and you would like an appointment to meet with the Counsellor, please contact us using the numbers at the end of the leaflet. 
 
If you are interested in reading other women’s experience of their abortion the ‘My Body My Life’ campaign has a large number of stories to read: ​​
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