Expert: Diane Cheryl - 9/9/2009

Question
I had an abortion at 7 weeks gestation on August 4th.It has now been 5 weeks and I still have bleeding on and off,sometimes dark and sometimes bright red and also a few clots.I also have been cramping a little in my lower abdomen.I have not been feverish as far as I can tell.
I did have unprotected sex,but penetration was for about 10 seconds and ejaculation occurred nowhere near my vagina (2 weeks after the abortion).The second time there was also penetration of about 10 seconds and then we proceeded with anal intercourse as an alternative (4 weeks after the abortion).
Here are my questions
1-Could I be pregnant even though I have been bleeding for so long?Could it be my period that I am getting only now?
2-If it's not my period,how long should I be bleeding? The bleeding is not excessive(1-2 pads per day) and it's mostly spotting with dark clots and sometimes red blood...is this normal?

Answer
Hi Valerie,

Thanks for your question. Yes, it's possible that you could be pregnant but not likely. But it is somewhat expected to have bleeding after the abortion. But it should be quitting and so you might want to consult your physician about this. There have been reports of excessive and extended bleeding after an abortion. So I really can't tell you how long it is expected to bleed as every woman is different. And it could be your period as well. Sorry I can't tell you more but each woman has her own cycle and recovery. If you experience any psychological, emotional or spiritual problems after abortion, you can contact me for free post abortion counseling. My email address is DCHERYL51@yahoo.com and hope to hear from you soon.

Diane Cheryl