The majority of women who have an abortion do not experience complications. However, in rare cases, some pregnancy tissue may remain in the uterus. Understanding how to confirm whether an abortion was successful is important for your health and peace of mind.
What Is an Incomplete Abortion?
When pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus
An incomplete abortion occurs when tissue from the pregnancy, such as parts of the uterine lining, fetus, or placenta, remains in the uterus after the abortion.
In this situation, the person is no longer pregnant, but not all products of conception have been expelled from the body.
How incomplete abortion differs from ongoing pregnancy
An incomplete abortion means the pregnancy has ended, but some tissue remains. This is different from an ongoing pregnancy, where the pregnancy continues to develop.
Incomplete abortion is considered a complication, although it is rare.
How to Check If an Abortion Was Successful
Overview of medical and self-check methods
There are three main ways to confirm whether an abortion was successful:
- hCG blood test
- Ultrasound
- Urine pregnancy test
Each method helps determine whether pregnancy tissue remains or if hormone levels are decreasing as expected.
When follow-up may be necessary
Follow-up may be necessary if there are concerning symptoms such as persistent pregnancy symptoms, heavy bleeding, severe pain, fever, or abnormal vaginal discharge.
hCG Blood Tests After an Abortion
Qualitative vs quantitative hCG blood tests
An hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) blood test detects a hormone produced during pregnancy.
There are two types of tests:
- Qualitative test: Detects whether hCG is present or not
- Quantitative test: Measures the exact level of hCG in the blood
Clinicians usually prefer quantitative tests to assess whether hormone levels are increasing or decreasing.
Why hCG levels can stay high after abortion
hCG levels can remain elevated for several weeks after an abortion, even if the abortion was successful.
Because of this, a single hCG measurement is not always enough to determine the outcome.
Interpreting results with a healthcare provider
Since hCG levels vary widely between individuals, interpretation should always be done by a healthcare provider.
They can determine whether the hormone levels are decreasing appropriately and whether further evaluation is needed.
Ultrasound After an Abortion
When ultrasound is useful and when it’s not needed
An ultrasound is not routinely required after a medical abortion.
However, it may be recommended in certain situations, especially if there are symptoms or concerns.
It is generally advised to wait at least two weeks after the abortion before having an ultrasound, unless symptoms appear earlier.
Retained tissue, ongoing pregnancy, and next steps
An ultrasound can confirm whether the uterus is empty or if tissue remains.
If retained tissue is detected, it often resolves on its own during the next menstrual cycle.
In some cases, such as ongoing pregnancy or bothersome symptoms, treatment like vacuum aspiration may be recommended.
Urine Pregnancy Tests After an Abortion
Why early tests can give false positives
After an abortion, levels of the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) begin to decrease, but they do not disappear immediately. In fact, hCG can remain detectable in the body for several weeks after the procedure.
Because most home pregnancy tests are highly sensitive and designed to detect even small amounts of hCG, taking a test too soon can lead to a false positive result. This does not necessarily mean that the abortion was unsuccessful, but rather that residual hormone is still present in the body.
When to take a home pregnancy test for accurate results
To improve accuracy and avoid misleading results, it is recommended to wait at least four to five weeks after the abortion before taking a home pregnancy test.
Testing within this timeframe allows hCG levels to drop sufficiently, making it easier to determine whether the abortion was complete or if further evaluation may be needed.
Risks and Signs of an Incomplete Abortion
How risk changes with gestational age
The risk of incomplete abortion increases slightly with gestational age:
- 1.6% at 77 days of pregnancy
- 2.6% between 78–83 days
- 3.4% between 83–91 days
Incomplete abortion is less common after surgical procedures, as the uterus is emptied during the intervention.
Symptoms that require medical attention
You should seek medical attention if you experience:
- Intense vaginal bleeding
- Prolonged or worsening abdominal pain
- Persistent pregnancy symptoms after two weeks (nausea, breast tenderness, frequent urination)
- High fever more than 24 hours after using misoprostol
- Abnormal vaginal discharge
Bleeding after an abortion can last several days or weeks, but it should gradually decrease over time.
