Expert: Shan Yi Sheng - 3/23/2010

Question
I had a medical abortion on February 10th. I was 7 1/2 weeks pregnant. Everything went accordingly, I took the first drug at the clinic, never bled or cramped, until I took the second drug 24 hours later at home, then I had bleeding, cramping, and passed clots, one of them a bit larger than a grape... then the cramping and bleeding tapered off the next few days to light spotting with red blood for about 2 weeks and gradually getting darker and less into week 3 and 4, somedays heavier than others, somedays not spotting at all (maybe 2 days out of 6 weeks). Now it has been 6 weeks, and a few days ago I didnt spot at all, so I thought it was over, then I started cramping just a little and spotting the brown stuff again, today was darker brown and a little more than usual with just a little bit of red, and some mild cramping tonight... Did I have an incomplete abortion or is this normal?... Oh, and I didn't go back for my 2 week check up... It was over an hour so I put it off thinking everything would be okay.

Answer
Hi Sandy,
going back for your check up would have answered your question also. The Uterus is a self cleaning organ as you know from your periods. Your story is common. After the abortion there is more tissue to remove and cleaning takes longer. Old blood is brownish, red is fresh. Nothing can be said for sure when your normal period will come back as irregularity after an ab is the rule.
Have patience and do not worry. And do not have unprotected sex.
Dr Shan