Expert: Pat G - 8/25/2009

Question
Good day,

I have a girlfriend she became pregnant last July 21 (we had pregnancy test it was positive, I also took her for an ultrasound and yes she was pregnant). We decided to have an abortion 2 weeks ago. She took 5 Cytotec(Misoprostol) at 1AM of Aug 16 and had vaginal bleeding on the afternoon. A big white solid came out and we believed that was the baby. Then at night some blood clots came out too. We thought it was over, the following days she began to experienced some vaginal bleeding again, sometimes red sometimes brownish in color. Last Sunday, Aug 23 she had another 4pcs of Cytotec and experienced vaginal bleeding again but this time just a small amount of blood came out. We thought those small amount of discharge means that there are no more remains. Today, she began to experience some cramping and vaginal bleeding again but not in bad odor. It was light red and sometimes it was brownish. We made a test and still its positive. We really don't know what to do. I am afraid that she's into some kind of infection. What does these cramping & bleeding means?
I would really appreciate your help.

Thank you!

Answer
Hello, Kris,

PLEASE don't let your girlfriend take these kinds of chances! You really should protect her.

Misoprostol is very, very dangerous. It can kill a woman within hours. The manufacturer says it should NEVER be taken by a pregnant woman. She should NOT use it.

If this white solid had no form, it probably wasn't her baby. If you could see the baby with an ultrasound, then the baby has form. If the white solid was really an amniotic sac, that's another matter, but it wouldn't be very large. No telling what you saw. It's possible she was carrying twins. Also, sometimes a woman still has pregnancy hormones for awhile, even though she is no longer pregnant.

None of this surprises me, because abortion disrupts a woman's delicately balanced hormones, and so having more cramping and bleeding sometimes happens.

Have her go get another ultrasound. Also, you can have the doctor check her hormones. This will tell you quite a bit. But don't take her to the person who supplied the misoprostol. Go to someone else. Anybody who would give a pregnant woman misoprostol is very, very irresponsible.

If she is still pregnant, leave her alone. Let her carry the baby. It is far, far safer. If you can't raise a child, she can choose adoption. Take her to a decent doctor, who will take care of her.

Let me know how she does, and feel free to ask more questions. Take care of her. She deserves better.