AboutDoctor Joan Expertise I am a family doctor who has provided abortion care for over a decade. I can answer any health or medical related questions about early abortion, including the aspiration procedure, the abortion pill (RU486), or surgical abortion. I run a practice called Early Options, located in New York City: earlyabortionoptions.com. The practice is dedicated to making early abortion part of mainstream medical care. There are other family doctors around the United States who practice a similar approach to early abortion care: see earlyabortion.com.
Experience Experience in the area: I am a board certified family doctor who has been providing abortion services for 12 years. I am the founder of Early Options (earlyabortion.com) dedicated to making early abortion part of mainstream medical care.
Organizations:
National Abortion Federation
American Association of Family Physicians
Education/Credentials: Harvard Medical School
Expert: Doctor Joan Date: 4/17/2008 Subject: Pregnancy after D and C and starting birth control
Question QUESTION: Hello,
I was three months pregnant and lost the baby I had a D and C on 3/18 and then started birth control the following Sunday on 3/23. I had intercourse on 4/7 and condom broke. (2 weeks on pill) What are the chances of me getting pregnant? How likely? I am going to go buy a test but would like your advice. I realize my body is freaking out from pregnancy and then I went and added birth control for the first time in 15 years. Not sure if I have not started because of all the chaos or because I am pregnant again.
Thank you for your help,
ANSWER: Dear Noel,
You should be absolutely fine. The pill is usually effective immediately if you start it within a week of a termination of pregnancy. It would be unlikely for you to be pregnant again. The pregnancy test will still be positive from the first pregnancy. It will take over a month (sometimes 2 months) for the pregnancy hormones to completely go away and the urine test to be negative.
Good luck!
Doctor Joan
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I am so glad I found this site. In the future it will calm my mind when I am in panic about anything health related.
I did take a test, actually three and all of them are negative. I am into my second "white" pill of my Yaz and I have not started my period. I am 35 have not been on BC in about 15yrs. And personally I'd like to stop taking it right now because my body is messed up with hormones from pregnancy and the D and C. MY chest is larger now on this stupid pill then when i was three months pregnant. So my question to you, in your opinion. I have a laparoscopy set up in two weeks and I heard BC will help with cist and other things that might be causing me problems. But I believe in letting the body do it's thing naturally and not blocking your period with pills. Do you think I can just not take them and maybe look into the ring you insert. Or do those rings also cause side effects like chest enlargement?
I appreciate any feed back you can give. Pretty nervous about what they might find in this procedure coming up.
Thanks again,
Noe'l
Answer Dear Noe'l,
That is great news about the pregnancy tests. As far as birth control, I am a big fan of both the nuvaring and the IUD. If you are someone who does not like hormones the IUD is ideal. I have had them myself, and have inserted 100's of them, and have rarely had a problem. Make sure to look into the IUD without hormones.
I do not have enough medical information to advise you about taking hormones. If you decide to take hormonal contraception, the vaginal ring is one of the better options because it provides a lower dose of estrogen in a steady manner.
I hope this is helpful,
Doctor Joan
