Expert: Doctor Early Options - 11/29/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I had a medical abortion 5 weeks ago. I have been bleeding ever since. Sometimes it's heavy and sometimes it's just spotting. How long should I bleed after a medical abortion and if not more than 5 weeks what should I do or what could be going on with me? Also, the person that I was pregnant for was not the one. I recently got back with my ex, whom I have been with on and off for 10 years. I'm 30 and ready to get pregnant and start a family, so am I able to get pregnant now even if I'm still bleeding. I heard it's harder to get pregnant after 30.

ANSWER: You can have bleeding up to 80 days.  At 5 weeks, bleeding should be lighter.  You should call the facility that you went to and have a follow up visit.  You did not mention if you had a 2 week examination.  

It takes up to eight weeks to get a normal period.  I usually have my patients wait until after their first period to start trying to conceive.  However, you can become pregnant within eight days after having a medical abortion.

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

QUESTION: How would I know if it's my regular cycle or not, if I'm continously bleeding nonstop? I did have a 2 week follow up at the clinic and they said the pregnancy was terminated. I went to my gyno for a second opinion to make sure that, that was true and to make sure that I didn't have any infections. My gyno said I was fine and that she didn't see any signs that I was still pregnant. I also took a blood test to make sure my hormone/pregnancy levels are going down. I went twice for that and they are going down. I go back next week for one more blood test to make sure it's still going down. If I end up pregnant before my first cycle (whenever that is), will the baby be ok since I had an abortion 5 weeks ago?

Answer
It will take up to 3 months for your cycle to get back to normal.  Just relax.  Some healthy things you can do include taking a prenatal vitamin daily.  Eating right and moving forward with the relationship.  This can be your time to make sure that this is the right person and you are not making a hasty decision.  You have been off and on with this person.  You need to decide if he is ready to settle down and have a family. The worse thing you can do is to stress yourself at this point.  Being stressed affects fertility