Expert: Pat G - 8/1/2011

Question
QUESTION: I had a surgical abortion done on July 22 I was 3 weeks pregnant with twins. I found out 6 days before my period was supposed to start.  I only spotted very lightly for 2 days after. I didn't have cramping, clots or anything else like that. On the third day after the procedure I decided to take a pregnancy test because I was still experiencing pregnancy symptoms. The test came back negative. Is it possible that since I was pregnant with twins my hcg levels were high which allowed me to test as early as I did. And also would it be possible even though I had a negative test for me to still be pregnant because I'm still experiencing symptoms. Or maybe this is all in my head. Any advice will be really appreciated.

ANSWER: Hello, aleesha,

While it is true that you probably would have higher hcg levels with twins, I would regard it as highly problematical that you could know 6 days before your period was supposed to start. At that point, they would have barely implanted. In fact, I think it is highly likely you weren't pregnant at all, and someone simply took your money and did an abortion you didn't need. It is rare to be able to do a surgical abortion that early. It is too easy to miss one or both babies. It is also unlikely that you would get a negative pregnancy test so soon, if you were actually pregnant. Did you take a pregnancy test to begin with? Another possibility is that you were destined to miscarry anyway, in which case, an abortion was also unnecessary. Given how dangerous abortion is, having an unnecessary abortion is very unwise. If what they did was to take your money and do an abortion you didn't need, you can't trust their word that you were carrying twins. They couldn't necessarily know you were carrying twins, either. And because you had the abortion before your period was due to start, there is no way of knowing if your period would have come. And it is also possible you had a positive pregnancy test, but the test was faulty.

Your symptoms could be due to another cause. You didn't describe the symptoms. Some women will have nausea and vomiting and think it's morning sickness, when it's the flu. This could also make you exceptionally tired. Sore breasts are another common symptom, but I don't know that they would start feeling sore that early, either. And it is possible to have psychosomatic symptoms as well, though I consider that less likely than the flu. We should explore the actual symptoms and discuss them.

While what you say could be completely accurate, and the abortionist could have told you the truth, from where I sit, I think there is a high probability that the abortionist defrauded you. I sure wouldn't have anything further to do with him. I would also make sure that I wasn't living in fear of pregnancy. If you are not ready to accept a child, and you are not married, it is best not to have sex. Your partner should respect you and your body and not put you at risk.

Be on your guard for possible infection. If they used the apparatus they "should" have used, it is very difficult to clean, and infection is a definite risk. Since this apparatus is a device that simply suctions, if they did any scraping, I think again that they lied to you.

So there is still some uncertainty in my mind as to what actually happened. I would welcome further discussion. Take care.

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QUESTION: I got my period in june twice. On the 1st and the 28. I don't know if this has anything to do with it. I don't think I had any faulty pregnancy test because I took three of them one first response and two cvs store brands and all came out positive. The doctor I went to did an ultrasound the same day I had the abortion and he showed me two blob things. As far as the pregnancy test after the abortion being negative I didn't see anything wrong with that because last year I had a d&c due to a incomplete miscarriage and my pregnancy test was negative 2 days after that also. The only pregnancy symptoms I get while I'm pregnant are only extreme tiredness and sore breasts. Even a week after I'm still extremely tired and am actually feeling a little nauseaous now.

Answer
Hello, aleesha,

When you have a spontaneous miscarriage, the hormones have dropped drastically. So having it be negative soon after makes sense. As for ultrasound, I'd be VERY doubtful they can show you two blobs at only three weeks. I don't know if he rigged the thing or not, but I wouldn't put it past some of these guys. My best guess at this point is that you would have miscarried naturally, and as a result, the abortion was unnecessary. This kind of carelessness is something I expect from many of these so-called doctors. They usually graduate at the bottom of their class. They usually don't take a proper medical history.

I can't get past the instinct that the abortionist basically took your money to do an unnecessary abortion, and as a result, he has increased the possibility you will have health problems in the future.

Anyway, that's my opinion for what it's worth. Take care.