Expert: Pat G - 8/18/2009

Question
I used the pill abortion method on July 7th. The pregnancy was terminated and everything went well. I started taking birth control and I was sexually active about a week after the the abortion was completed. I am now six days late for my scheduled period. I took a pregnancy test and it came out negative. What could be making me so late for my period?

Answer
Hello, Chelsea,

When you have an abortion, it seriously disrupts your hormonal balance. So you can't really know when things will get back to normal. Try another pregnancy test in a week. But it sounds like you probably aren't pregnant. I can't guarantee it, of course. But you should seriously consider not having sex if you aren't married, because you could face the same situation again.

Another thing that could affect it is if you aren't eating well. You have to get enough animal fat to make the necessary hormones. If the abortion threw your hormones out of whack, you might have been close to not having periods, and this pushed your body over the edge. Also, if you are on birth control, that could aggravate the situation, even if you are taking them as directed.

If you continue to be concerned, please see a doctor. Find someone else; don't go back to the one who gave you the pills. Normally, they prescribe a pill which the manufacturer says should NEVER be used by a pregnant woman. This is because it could kill her one of several ways, sometimes within hours. I consider giving such a pill to a woman to be malpractice, so please find someone else. Let me know how you do and what you find out. Take care of yourself!