Updated in July 2025 by the safe2choose team
Why Postabortion Care Matters
While abortion is a relatively uncomplicated procedure with very few risks, following some simple do’s and don’ts can help ensure a smooth and comfortable recovery.
For most people, post-abortion complications are rare and only minor side effects are experienced. However, when it comes to managing these minor side effects, lack of information on what to do and not do can worsen the discomfort.
The following information is useful in determining how to care for yourself post-abortion to ensure you have a smooth recovery.
What to Do After an Abortion (Do’s)
There are some post-abortion self-care things you can do at home. During the abortion, you may experience some discomfort or side effects, such as bleeding, cramps, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, and fever. Some of these will continue in the following days or weeks, like cramps and bleeding, but they should get better over time.
You can practice self-care such as listening to your favorite music, giving yourself some nice treats like comfort food, a warm bath, doing yoga, watching a nice movie, enjoying a cup of tea, going for a walk; and relieve the side effects through various methods, such as using heat pads for the cramping; keeping hydrated, especially when experiencing nausea and diarrhea; and taking time to stay home and rest to recover from the fatigue.
When it comes to medication, taking ibuprofen during and after the abortion is recommended. Other medications similar to Ibuprofen (still in the NSAIDs category) that can be used if Ibuprofen is not available are naproxen, ketoprofen, ketorolac, or diclofenac. However, if you are allergic to NSAIDs, always follow what is prescribed to you by your doctor/health-care provider. Planned Parenthood recommends a few key medications, such as ibuprofen and Norco -Hydrocodone- for pain and cramping (5). However, it is always best to double-check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any medication you wish to take to alleviate your symptoms.
It is also advised that you monitor your symptoms and immediately notify your abortion counselor if any of them are excessive. Excessive pain/cramping, bleeding, and fever can be signs of complications, and notifying your abortion counselor will allow you to receive the appropriate treatment sooner.
Excessive bleeding can be identified as two or more soaked pads (completely soaked front to back, side to side) in one hour or less, lasting for two hours or more. A fever of 100.4° Fahrenheit (or 38°Celsius) is also considered a possible warning sign (5). Pain can be harder to measure in terms of excessiveness, but if you find that your pain is not getting better even after taking pain medication, you should contact your abortion counselor or health-care provider.
It’s completely normal to experience a range of emotions after an abortion—there’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to feel. Whatever you’re feeling is valid. If you’re comfortable, talking openly with someone you trust can be a powerful way to process your emotions.
Resting during a medical abortion is not mandatory, although it is recommended for people to be more comfortable. Most people prefer to rest while the cramping and bleeding are intense. Depending on how you feel, you may want to resume your daily activities or you may prefer to rest. Again, each person has a different experience, so it all depends on how you are feeling.
As part of postabortion support, some people consider preventing another unwanted pregnancy by receiving information on contraceptive methods, which you can receive from your sexual reproductive health counselors or medical advisor. According to Paula H Bednarek, MD, MPH, contraceptive counseling involves reviewing your contraceptive preferences and introducing other options so that you can choose the best one for the short and long term (3).
Important to know: You can ovulate as soon as 8 days after an abortion, which means pregnancy is possible again even before your next period (sometimes within 2 weeks). This can happen even if you're still bleeding. If you want to avoid pregnancy, consider starting contraception right away.
In the weeks after your abortion, you can use pads at first to see how much you are bleeding. You can switch to a tampon or cup when you feel comfortable. You can return to your normal activities as soon as you feel ready.
It’s also safe to have sex when you feel ready to. We recommend listening to our own desires and your body’s necessities.
If you want, you can take a pregnancy test 4-5 weeks after the abortion to make sure it was successful. Taking a test sooner may give a false positive result. If the test is still positive at 5 weeks or if you still have pregnancy symptoms, see a healthcare provider to check if the abortion worked.
What to Keep in Mind After an Abortion (Don’ts)
Avoiding anything stressful, such as work or any other concerns, in the first week post-abortion can also help in this regard, as it will allow you to recover both physically and emotionally.
International safe abortion guidelines — including those from the WHO — confirm that routine antibiotics are not needed after an abortion, as the risk of infection is very low when the procedure is done correctly. However, if you experience warning signs like fever, severe pain, or unusual discharge, see a doctor right away. And if they do give you antibiotics, make sure to take them exactly as told – this helps you heal properly.
Overall, aside from some minor side effects, the post-abortion recovery process should not be complicated or unpleasant. Most of the discomfort can be managed with the appropriate level of rest, care, and medication. As long as you consult your abortion counselor and care for yourself according to their advice as well as the tips provided above, you should be feeling better in no time.
Abortion can be a complex process, both physically and emotionally, so remember to treat yourself with empathy and kindness. Practice self-love because you just gave yourself a gift of deciding and choosing what’s best for you.
