Will I need a dilation and curettage (D&C) after using abortion pills?
If abortion pills successfully terminated the pregnancy most women will not need to use any extra medication, nor have any surgical procedure afterwards.
Some health providers are not properly trained and may unnecessarily suggest a surgical procedure to remove all the tissues in the uterus. However, this is usually done naturally by your uterus. Remember that on average an abortion with pills can take a few weeks to complete itself.
If there is a real medical reason to remove the tissue in your uterus, the safest procedure is a vacuum aspiration [1], and not a D&C. Unfortunately, in many places a D&C is the only available option.
If the pills did not terminate the pregnancy you can try again with abortion pills. Repeating the procedure is safe as long as you wait 72 hours since the last time you used abortion pills.
[1] Ipas. (2019). Clinical Updates in Reproductive Health. L. Castleman & N. Kapp (Eds.). Chapel Hill, NC: Ipas. Retrieved from: https://www.ipas.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ipas-Clinical-Updates-in-Reproductive-Health-CURHE23b.pdf
After an abortion with pills
- Do I need an ultrasound to confirm the abortion pills were successful?
- Do the abortion pills get less effective if you use them again in the future?
- How can I prevent another pregnancy in the future?
- How many days should I rest after using abortion pills?
- What happens if I am still pregnant after using abortion pills?
- Will I need a dilation and curettage (D&C) after using abortion pills?
- Will I be able to get pregnant after an abortion?
- How long do I need to wait to have sex after using abortion pills?
*Nothing provided herein should be construed as professional medical advice and no medication / pills should be used without a prescription from a licensed / registered medical practitioner eligible to prescribe such medication in your local jurisdiction.