Expert: Doctor Early Options - 6/2/2010

Question
Hello,

On March 31, 2010 I had a medical abortion (I was only six weeks along).  I bled a lot, as expected, and then a month after I had my first period.. On April 28, 2010 to be exact.  I was then supposed to go follow up with the clinic to make sure the abortion worked correct because they said there was a small chance of “the baby not being completely out”.  Well, I didn’t go to the follow up appointment because I strongly felt that I could be pregnant again and couldn’t go through with another abortion.  So, I took a pregnancy test which said negative.. I took another one a week ago that came up positive, and another since then that showed postitive.

I scheduled an appointment with my OBGYN but, they will not answer my question until next week when I go in.  I am wondering if getting pregnant that soon can harm this baby?  I am worried because I never went to the check up that there could be something wrong?  

Any outlook or answers on this would help.  Thanks.

Crystal

Answer
Dear Crystal,
Thank you for your question regarding pregnancy after medical abortion.  There are three possibilities.  Most likely the pregnancy test was accurately negative, and you had a successful medical abortion.  This would indicate that you have a new pregnancy.  The other possibility is that the first test was not accurate, and you have tissue remaining from the first pregnancy.  The third possibility is that the medical abortion was unsuccessful and you have a continuing pregnancy.  This is very unlikely given that you had significant bleeding after taking the pill.

There is only one way to know for sure - and that is to go to a doctor and either get an ultrasound or a set of two blood tests (at least 48 hours apart) to see if your pregnancy hormones are increasing or decreasing.  You can find more information on pregnancy after abortion on my website: http://www.earlyabortionoptions.com

If it turns out that you are pregnant again, there is no problem with either continuing or ending the pregnancy.  There are no additional risks in carrying a pregnancy immediately after a medical abortion.  There are no additional risks of having a second abortion immediately after a medical abortion.  

I hope this is helpful,
Doctor Joan
New York City