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: http://www.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 http://www.EarlyAbortion.com.
Please do not ask "private" questions so that other women can learn from your experience. Please tell me what country you are from so that I can better help you.
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 M.D., Harvard Medical School
M.P.A., John F. Kennedy School of Government
Question I am 4-5 wk and took 2 insert pill, started cramping and bleeding a few hrs later but not heavy. the bleeding and cramping came heavier on the 3rd day, how much longer will this bleeding continue
Answer Dear Mary,
It is common and normal to have irregular bleeding for weeks to months after taking the Abortion pill. Blood flow that is light or spotting is normal. Bleeding like a period is normal. Blood that is red like a period, or brown, like discharge is normal. Sometimes the blood flow can be much heavier, and have clots. This is also normal. The bleeding can happen daily, or it can stop and start.
The average length of irregular bleeding is 6 weeks. This kind of bleeding is the main reason women are unhappy with the Abortion Pill. However, your period will come back to normal. Usually when women understand that it is normal, the bleeding can be more annoying that upsetting.
Bleeding that should be evaluated after the Abortion Pill includes: heavy, gushing bleeding and clots for more than 24 hours, bleeding associated with severe cramping, or daily bleeding like a period (or more) that lasts more than 4 weeks. If you are not sure if your bleeding patterns are this heavy, it is best to call the doctor who prescribed the Abortion Pill.
