Expert: Pat G - 1/21/2010

Question
QUESTION:
i had an abortion 2 weeks ago.. that was on January 2. after  i took the pill, i bled after 7 hours. it works. i bleed for about 11 days..but to make it clear, i had sex i think 8 days after i took the pill.(so im still bleeding when i had the intercourse)..and after my bleeding stop, i am discharging a yellowish fluid which is not really has a foul a odor.
on January 18, i experience a heavy cramp on my lower abdomen for about 11 hours but medicine helps somehow .. and the present day is january 18. when i woke up at 10 am late, i still feel a bit of cramping in my lower abdomen.. is it normal to a woman who had an abortion? how many weeks will the cramping stop? what does the yellowish fluid means? is it normal? what should i do? please help me.

please answer my question...

         respectfully yours,
         jamira frida


PS: i never go to a doctor for check-ups.

ANSWER: First of all, having an abortion is NOT normal. So anything that goes wrong afterwards isn't normal, either.  In fact, abortion is dangerous, as you are finding out.

You didn't say how far along you were. This is important. You spoke of taking "the pill", so I assume you mean you took one pill. You then said that you have a yellowish fluid which "is not really has" a foul odor. Does it have a foul odor? It sounds like it.

There are several possibilities, each of them suggesting your health and life are in danger. You may have had an incomplete abortion. You may have an infection in addition. I can't tell you how long the cramping will go on; nobody can. And nobody can diagnose your problem over the internet.

You said you never go to a doctor for check-ups. You NEED to make an exception now. You NEED to go to the doctor and find out what the problem is. You may have serious problems for years if you don't, and you may even die. So please go to the doctor IMMEDIATELY.

You also need to stop putting yourself at risk by having sex. This is especially true if you are not married. You deserve better. The sex you had may be contributing to the problem. If you are married, please accept any child you are given, or learn to tell when you are fertile. Don't have any more sex until your problem clears up.

Please let me know what you find out and how you do. And please don't take any more chances with your life. Stay safe!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks for the advice... im planning to go to a doctor now.. but i live in country that abortion in not legal.. and im afraid that the doctor might find out that i took a pill... some said that the doctor would not know it. it is true?.. THANK you..  

Answer
Hello, jamira,

I am aware that abortion is illegal in the Philippines. The Philippines is one of the few countries that cares enough about its women to protect them from abortion.

Your doctor should be TOLD you took a pill. This is important, because he may not know how to save your life otherwise. Doctors are not supposed to reveal a woman's medical history to anyone. I don't know whether in the Philippines they are required by law to report abortions or not. This is why it is important to find one you can trust. Here's what I recommend you do. Go to this web site:

http://heartbeatservices.org/index.php/connections/worldwide-directory

Choose "Philippines" from the country list.

Call the one nearest you, and tell them you know someone who tried to have an abortion, and is suffering complications, and you need to know how she can safely get medical care, without getting into trouble with the law. See what they tell you. If they can recommend a doctor who will protect you, then go to that doctor.

Please let me know what happens. I will pray for you. Take care.