Expert: Pat G - 4/26/2011

Question
QUESTION: Dear Doctor,
I had D&C on 26th March. My body got back to normal after two days. I had only brownish discharge from my virgina after it. But now, on 1st April, I had small bleeding. Is it normal? Should I go to see the doctor.
Thank you in advance.
Erika

ANSWER: Hello, Erika,

You're welcome. Please know that I am not a doctor. I am a medical researcher.

I am assuming you had an abortion. Is that the case? There is nothing normal about having an abortion, and also nothing normal about what happens afterwards. That said, as long as you are experiencing only a little bleeding a few days later, I wouldn't consider it any kind of panic. Watch yourself closely. If you start to bleed much more heavily, have pain, smell a foul odor, or anything like that, it is time to be concerned. Always, whenever you are concerned about a possible medical problem, go see a doctor for reassurance. If the D&C was supposed to be an abortion, do not go back to the person who did the D&C. Find someone who knows that abortion is bad medicine. If you had some kind of medical condition, or you had had a miscarriage, then the doctor you had is probably OK. Since you didn't tell me whether it was supposed to be an abortion or not, or any other details, there's not much else I can tell you. But at the moment, it doesn't look like an emergency. Like I said, if you need reassurance, go see the doctor.

Please take care. I am here if you have any further questions.

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

QUESTION: Hello,
Thank you for your advice.
In my previous letter, I forgot to say that I had illegal abortion. The one who made D&C didn't mention what she was. As my country doesn't allow abortion, I had no choice to choose a reliable person. But many women underwent abortion with her and the results were quite fine. So, I did D&C with her. I did medical abortion before that but unfortunately, it didn't work.Bleeding was stopped on Saturday and Sunday. This morning I had slight bleeding but it seems to be normal.
Thank you again.
Erika

ANSWER: Hello, Erika,

You're welcome. And thank you for getting back to me.

If it's any consolation, legal abortions are usually not as safe as illegal ones. People who are afraid of the law tend to be more careful. That said, you still need to be checked for possible infection. Bleeding after abortion is not normal, because abortion is not normal.

Why did you feel abortion was your only choice?

Please don't take any more chances of pregnancy until you are willing to accept a child. Take care.

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

QUESTION: Dear Pat G,
As I mentioned above, I had D&C on 26th March. Now, my period begins on 25th March and it is heavier than usual. Is it normal? Why is it heavier than past? I'm looking forward to your reply.
Thanks again and again.
Best wishes,
Erika

Answer
Hello, Erika,

Thank you for the kind rating. Please know I am female.

As I mentioned before, having an abortion isn't normal, and neither is anything that happens afterward.

That said, there are a couple of possibilities. One is that because the abortion disrupted your hormones, your body is not going to behave like it did before. Another is that the doctor did injure you in some way, beyond what usually occurs. Watch the bleeding. If it gets too heavy, seek medical care. Heavy bleeding can be very dangerous. In the meantime, if you can, get some food with red hot peppers in it, or take cayenne, regularly until the bleeding subsides. But please keep in mind that if you do have an unusual injury, it will need to be looked at.

I hope things go well for you. Take care.