If you had an abortion with pills, you probably took a medicine known as Misoprostol. After taking the abortion pill, you may be thinking, “After I take Misoprostol, when will I have my normal period again?” Although you may be worried, it is important to know your hormones and period will take some time to normalize. Everyone’s body and experience post-abortion is different.
Pregnancy changes your body in many ways, and, thus, it can take some time for it to return to its baseline. Consequently, your period may take some time to return. This article will discuss Misoprostol and what you can expect from menstruation post-abortion.
How does Misoprostol work?
The abortion pill typically consists of two medications: Mifepristone and Misoprostol. Mifepristone terminates the pregnancy. It does so by blocking progesterone, an essential hormone in pregnancy. Blocking progesterone causes a breakdown of the uterine lining, stopping the pregnancy. However, Mifepristone alone will not cause an abortion. It needs to be combined with Misoprostol, which will help the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy.
Misoprostol is the second pill in the abortion process, but sometimes it is the only pill you take. Misoprostol’s role is to empty the uterus of the pregnancy contents (1).
How long after an abortion will it take to get my period?
Your menstrual cycle may return in approximately 4-6 weeks. Your fertility can return very quickly, which means you can get pregnant very shortly after your abortion, within as little as two weeks, if you have unprotected sex.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that some people don’t have a regular menstrual cycle, which might affect when their period returns, too. If you wish to prevent an unwanted pregnancy, it is recommended that you start a contraceptive method right away because you can begin ovulating as early as 8 days after an abortion. You can chat with Myka to learn more about your options.
If you are not on birth control and still haven’t gotten your period, do not worry quite yet. It can take up to 6 weeks to get your period again. If you do not get your period within eight weeks of the abortion, follow up with a health-care provider or health center.
How do I know if the blood is my period?
After undergoing an abortion, it is very normal to experience bleeding for a few days or weeks afterwards. Although it is the result of the abortion, some may mistake it for their period. There is some overlap between these two types of bleeding, but there are also key differences.
Abortion-associated bleeding will typically be heavy with clotting and tissue present varying in size depending on how far along the pregnancy was. The duration of heavy bleeding and intensity of the cramps differ from person to person. In an early pregnancy, even small blood clots can indicate that the abortion has worked.
For a pregnancy of more than 10 weeks, you might see or feel the embryo or fetus when it passes. This is a natural part of the process, and it’s completely normal. If this happens, you can choose to wrap it in sanitary pads or dispose of it by flushing it down the toilet – whatever feels right for you.
This is all normal and means the medication is working. We’re available to support you if you need to talk.
How do I manage bleeding post-abortion?
After an abortion, you can use your method of choice to manage your bleeding. This includes pads, tampons, or a menstrual cup. You may prefer to use pads so that you can keep track of how much you are bleeding, and you can switch to a tampon or menstrual cup as soon as you feel comfortable.
When you do eventually get your period again, you can continue to manage it in the same way you normally would.
Is it possible I am still pregnant?
The abortion pill is highly effective, so when taken correctly, it is very unlikely that you are still pregnant. The statistics below outline how efficacious it really is.
- Using a combination of Mifepristone and Misoprostol is over 95% effective, and
- Using Misoprostol only is 85-93% effective.
Although very effective, there are very few instances in which the pill does not work. If you still have not gotten your period after eight weeks or suspect you have had an incomplete abortion, contact a medical provider or health-care clinic or seek abortion counseling. Incomplete abortions can be handled via in-clinic abortions (3).
Conclusion
Safe abortion is highly effective when it comes to terminating a pregnancy. Even so, it is normal for your body to change and take some time to normalize after ending a pregnancy. If you have taken the abortion pill, it is important to keep a few key things in mind:
- It can take between 4-6 weeks for your period to return.
- How long it takes you to get your period will depend on if you are on birth control, and if so, which one.
- It is unlikely that you are still pregnant as the abortion pill is up to 95% effective.
- If after eight weeks you still do not have your period, seek medical advice. However, everybody is different. While some people have regular cycles, some people do not, and that is okay. What’s important is that you understand your own body and educate yourself, especially if you have other medical conditions. Listen to your body.
If you have doubts and would like to confirm if the pregnancy has ended, click here to find out which test to take and when. You can also reach out for a consultation.
