Expert: Pat G - 4/26/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi!

My GF tested positive last March 15 and we scheduled an abortion for her on March 20. She was past 1 month delayed at the time of the abortion. After the abortion, she had 3 days of bleeding and after that it dissappeared. Last April nth we checked if she was still pregnant and had a pregnancy test and it was still positive.

I have noticed that the entire month she still showed symptoms of being pregnant (i.e. dizzines, nausea, sensitive to smell, etc) She has irregular menstruation. How many days before she can be tested negative after abortion? Its been over a week since we did the last pregnancy test when can we have the test again?

Please advice

Cheers

ANSWER: Hello, zack,

What method of abortion did she use? When did you say you checked? You just said "April nth". If you can answer these questions, I may be able to help you further. Thank you.

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

QUESTION: We had an abortionist do it (although this is illegal from the country that I am from). The abortion happened last March 20. We had a pregnancy test last April 20 (exactly one month after the abortion) to check if she was still pregnant or not, but it still showed positive. Until now, she is still showing some signs of being pregnant (nausea, senstitive to smell, etc) but we have not performed any pregnancy test yet.

I am concern because it has been more than a month that she still doesn't have her period. We are afraid to consult to a doctor because the doctor may sue us.

We need your advice.

Thanks

Answer
Hello, zack,

Yes, I am aware that abortion is illegal in the Philippines. It is one of the few countries that cares enough about women to try to protect them from abortionists.

So I would assume from what you said, that she had a surgical abortion. Occasionally, the abortionist will miss the baby, especially if it's done much before eight weeks. And sometimes an abortionist will miss the baby deliberately or do an incomplete abortion so he can collect two fees. Abortionists are totally unscrupulous. No doctor would do an abortion on a woman for anything less than a life-threatening condition. I still don't know how far along she was (or would be now), and that would be useful information.

Abortion disrupts a woman's hormones. Sometimes pregnancy hormones last for several weeks. Each situation is different; women's bodies respond differently, and partly it depends on how far along a woman was when she had an abortion. If she did take a pregnancy test at this point, there could still be hormones left over, but it has been nearly five weeks, so I tend to think not.

If she is still pregnant, she should leave things alone. Abortion is far too dangerous. It's not worth the risk, and she deserves better. There is help available for whatever a woman faces because of pregnancy. So here is what I recommend. You can find a doctor you can trust by finding an organization in your area that helps pregnant women. They can recommend a doctor, and if necessary, they can provide other kinds of help. To find one near you, go to this web site:

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

They are used to helping women even though abortion is illegal in the Philippines.

Let me know what they say. Please take care of her, and don't let her take any more risks with her life.