Expert: Pat G - 3/5/2011

Question
i had an surgical abortion 2 weeks ago and i have not stopped bleeding. there is alot of clot and i am still having pain. is this ok. what can i expect at my follow up.

Answer
Hello, mary,

Abortion always harms a woman's body. It is a vicious attack on our bodies. That said, it's not that common for women to experience such prolonged bleeding. This would indicate to me that they injured you beyond what they might have. I urge you not to go back there for a follow up. They didn't care about you in the first place, because if they had, they would have helped you find a better answer. They would probably tell you nothing is wrong, when that is most definitely NOT the case. They don't want to admit they harm a woman. Most abortion facilities in the United States are in deplorable condition, and abortionists are careless.

You mentioned pain as well. What I am concerned about is that they may have perforated your uterus. This happens very easily. Until that is fixed, you may well continue to bleed, or at least for a long time, and that's not good for you, either. There will almost certainly also be scar tissue, and this can cause problems. They almost certainly injured your cervix. That's what happens when they force it open. It causes a large number of tiny tears, and this weakens it. Some women experience repeat miscarriages or very early birth as a result. Very early birth can cause some pretty serious birth defects. The damaged cervix and the scar tissue can cause some serious complications when you give birth. You will also be more prone to have a tubal pregnancy, which is a life-threatening condition that requires emergency surgery. If you become pregnant and experience pain in the early weeks, have it checked out immediately.

There are also long term consequences, such as the fact that the chance you will get breast cancer is increased, and you can also get an auto-immune disease such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. To avoid breast cancer, I recommend you take Vitamin D3 daily for the rest of your life. 5000IU is a good daily dose. You will have to have your blood checked to make sure you're not getting too much. Don't get mammograms. They can cause or spread breast cancer. Get a regular thermogram.

You do sound like you need medical attention. I recommend you find a decent doctor, someone with good medical judgment. Abortion is bad medicine, and anybody who thinks it's acceptable doesn't have good medical judgment. If you have trouble finding someone, you can ask either at La Leche League meetings, or you can find an organization in your area that helps women in your position. To find one near you, go to this web site:

http://www.optionline.org/

The lists are linked on the right.

Please take care of yourself and see the doctor right away. Let me know what you find out and how you do. Please, stay safe.