Expert: Pat G - 6/25/2010

Question
Hello,

I recently had a medical abortion (took 2 pills at doctor's office on 6/5/10 and 4 pills on 6/6/10, I was 5 weeks along. Everything went fine painful, but normal and I went to my follow up appointment last Saturday, 6/19/10. At the follow up the Dr. said everything looked good and there was nothing more I needed to do other than take birth control which I started the a few days after the abortion. By the time that I went to my follow up my bleeding had slowed down and I was just lightly spotting some thick brown discharge. I felt good. The day after my follow up I started getting some light bleeding again and it's gotten progressively heavier as the days have passed.  Today, 5 days after my follow up, I am bleeding really bad but not filling 1 pad an hour) and having cramping and lower back pain.  There are also lots of clots and it smells weird.  I also noticed on Tuesday some of the blood looked a dark pinkish color, like it was mixed with a discharge, and it was thick and creamy.  My boyfriend and I had sex the night after my follow up appointment and again on Monday night.  Also, I started exercising again on the Sunday after my follow up appointment.  I'm not sure if it's just been aggravated b/c of the sex or exercise.  Or if there is some other problem I should be worried about.

Thank you so much for your help!!!

Answer
Hello, Christine,

You're welcome.

From what you are telling me, you need to be checked out. You shouldn't have a thick, creamy discharge and it shouldn't smell weird. You may have an infection. Sometimes if you don't pass all of the tissue, it will result in an infection and heavy cramping and bleeding. The other problem is that the pills contain a substance that cuts off your body's supply of the hormone that controls bleeding, so it is possible to bleed to death from a pill abortion.

You shouldn't be having sex as long as you are passing any material at all. And if you don't want to have to face this choice again, you should stop having sex altogether until you are married. You really deserve better. Sex will aggravate cramping and bleeding, but I'm more concerned about the possibility this started an infection in your uterus. Please take it easy. It would be far too common for your body to simply let go and for you to have a full-blown hemorrhage.

Your doctor should check you very carefully, and run tests. He should test hormones, and for various kinds of infection. He should check and make sure that you don't have any material left in your uterus. Don't go back to the doctor who gave you the pills. One of the drugs used is not supposed to given to a pregnant woman, ever, because in addition to causing hemorrhage, there are several other ways it can do severe damage or even kill a woman. And obviously, the doctor never told you the possible dangers, and got your informed consent. Very few women will choose abortion if they know what the real consequences are. That doctor committed malpractice. You need to go to someone who has sound medical judgment, who KNOWS that abortion is harmful to women, and should not be done to a woman. Let me know if you need help finding such a doctor.

If you start to bleed particularly heavily (and you're certainly close to that point), it will possibly help if you will get some cayenne into your body. You can get it as a supplement at the health food store, or you can get it in spicy food. It is red hot peppers. Your doctor may also be able to help. But right now, you need to take it easy and get to the doctor as soon as you can.

Please let me know how you do, and take care!