Expert: Doctor Early Options - 5/7/2009

Question
Dear Dr. Joan,

I went to a clinic and got an ultrasound and was told I was 5 weeks and 3 days pregnant. I took the mifeprex orally and the misoprostol vaginally. I was told to expect heavy cramps and bleeding. To my surprise the cramping was light and so was the bleeding. I was worried that something was wrong so I called the clinic and the nurse told me that having an early pregnancy could mean minimal cramps and bleeding. Hours later I passed a few small clots and what looks like tissue and the next day I did the same. I had headaches and felt very queasy. It has been one week and I still have light spotting.

Was the nurse correct-or should I be worried?
If the medical abortion didnt work I know that I have to have the aspiration procedure. I've read up on how the procedure is performed, and I've been told that during it I'll feel cramping but I read other stories where women say it is a severely painful procedure. I'm sorry this is so long but I'm starting to feel very scared.
Could you please advise me?
Thanks.

Answer
Dear Lacy,
There is no way to know whether the pill worked except by going in for a follow up visit.  With very early pregnancies like yours, the bleeding can be very lignt, so it can be confusing.  If it didn't work, you should be given the choice to repeat the second set of pills (misoprostol) or to have a procedure. You are lucky to have been offered an Aspiration Procedure in this situation - it can be difficult to find a doctor who offers this simple natural option.

The Aspiration procedure is not invasive because there is no scraping (that is usually what causes so much pain in a surgical abortion).  If it is done correctly, you should experience several minutes of tolerable cramping, and then feel completely normal.  Read more about this at:
http://www.earlyabortionoptions.com/aspiration-abortion.html

Most women are scared before having any kind of procedure, but the Aspiration procedure is one of the most simple medical procedures around.  It is so simple that women used to do it on each other in their own homes! It is worth taking a minute to learn about its intersting history: (http://developingyourhealth.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-menstrual-extraction-became...)

Good luck - it sounds like the pills worked, from your description.  I am glad that you had minimal cramping with the pills.

I hope this is helpful,
Doctor Joan
earlyabortionoptions.com
New York City