Expert: Pat G - 2/8/2010

Question
QUESTION: I had my 6 weeks old abortion a month back and it was surgical. Went for a followup and doctor said everything was fine. A month passed and I am waiting for my period. Now, I know its normal to have delayed period after an abortion. Sometimes it takes 1 to 2 months i hear. Now within this period I did not have sex but I feel signs of pregnancy, e.g no period, protruding stomach, craving for food, tender breasts. Is this normal after abortion or am i pregnant again even though i did not have sex? Is that even possible? Or am i just paranoid? I am going to go for a check up soon but I am a little scared so help me please!

ANSWER: Hello, worried,

It's hard to say, especially over the internet, what is happening with you. As you know, it takes awhile for hormones to return to the non-pregnant state. The presence of pregnancy hormones could cause some symptoms to continue for awhile. If you have been eating more, protruding stomach could always be a sign that you have put on weight. You haven't said whether you are a person who is prone to morning sickness. If so, and you had it before, and don't have it now, that is a possible sign the abortion was successful. However, surgical abortions sometimes miss the baby, especially when done that early. You would be ten weeks by now if you are still pregnant. An ultrasound would probably see the baby. You didn't say what country you are from, but in some countries, you can get a free ultrasound from an organization that helps pregnant women. It would be better to go to them and get a new doctor if you can, rather than going back to the person who did the abortion.

You wouldn't have a new pregnancy if you didn't have sex, unless you allowed your partner to deposit any fluid near the opening of your vagina. Although a woman can get pregnant from that, it is rare. That said, you probably wouldn't be experiencing much by way of symptoms from such a new pregnancy this early.

If you would like help finding an organization that helps pregnant women and women who have had abortions, let me know what country you are in. Otherwise, please take care of yourself, and stay away from abortion. It's dangerous, and you deserve better. Let me know what happens.

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

QUESTION: Thank you for the prompt reply. No I usually dont have morning sickness and when I was pregnant for 5 weeks I did not experience it either. Also after the abortion, I had a followup appointment 7 days after the abortion and my doctor said everything was normal. The doctor was prescribed Ovastate Gold contraceptive pills to be taken on the first day of my period. Am I supposed to take my contraceptive pills for the rest of my life even though I dont plan to have sex what so ever? Or am I supposed to take the pill during when I am sexually active with my partner and not planning to conceive? Please help me understand. Thank you.

Answer
Hi, worried,

So you have had pregnancies before? It is fortunate that you don't experience morning sickness. That is a blessing.

You shouldn't be taking birth control pills if you aren't having sex. They can cause some serious health problems. But that's what doctors do: they plug pills. If this is the doctor who did the abortion, he especially wouldn't be troubled by doing this, and it sounds like he doesn't expect you to stop having sex. Here is a page on Ovastate:

http://www.naari.ch/category/index/25/181/active-pharmaceutical-ingredients/lyne

You will see that there are certain medical conditions that should stop a woman from using the contraceptive, and there are also adverse effects.

You sound like you are serious about not having sex, which is a good thing. There are certain possibilities, however, that might mean you can go too far. If your partner is a decent person, and you decide to continue to have a relationship with him, eventually, you may be asked to marry him. If so and you accept, then sex would be reasonable, and men pretty much need to have sex in marriage; very few are willing not to do so. It would also make him vulnerable to adultery. The other danger, as I see it, is the temptation to turn to a relationship with another woman. This will probably lead only to heartbreak or worse. Such relationships are often abusive, and the suicide rate is high. The important thing now is that as long as you are not married, you should stay out of situations where sex is likely to be a temptation. Although rare, a woman can get pregnant if a man deposits any fluid, even a drop, near the opening to her body.

So basically as I see it, the doctor has concluded you are going to be sexually active, and he's not listening to you, and he has prescribed a potentially dangerous drug which there is absolutely no need to take unless you plan to have sex, or make yourself vulnerable. Sometimes people do slip, which is why staying out of situations where you are alone in a private place with your partner is so important. Also, there is the possibility he feels he is being conscientious by trying to prevent you from ever seeking an abortion again.

You know yourself better than anyone else, and if your resolve is firm, and you will follow up with preventive action as I have recommended, in my opinion you have no reason to take the drug, and therefore, you have every reason to refuse to take it.

If you need any further help, I think you can find it here:

Community Health & NFP Centre
Address: I/C/1/E, Pollabi, Mirpur 11 1/2
Dhaka  1221
Bangladesh
Phone:    880/2 803217

If this is too far away, let me know.

I hope this helps. Please take care of yourself. Let me know how things go.