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Abortion/Pain and Bleeding after Medical Abortion

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Expert: - 10/18/2007


Question
I had a medical abortion about a month and a week ago. I've been bleeding moderately ever since - going through roughly two heavy pads a day. There hasn't been a single day, in which I haven't bleed. I started birth control a week after the procedure, and the Dr. told me it would help with the bleeding - though it doesn't seem to. My concern is, that I've recently started having some pretty severe pains somewhere in my stomache/uterus/vagina area. It hurts to move, it hurts to take a deep breath, it hurts to laugh... Sometimes these pains are not present, sometimes they are unbearable. I don't really know what to do, and am unsure if these are symptoms due to the medical abortion.

Answer
Dear Ash,
Unfortunately the bleeding is completely normal.  It can go on for weeks, even months - although usually after a few weeks it becomes more irregular, and more like spotting.  I have no concerns at this stage, but if you start having heavier bleeding, you would want to get it checked out.   However, I am concerned about the severe pains.  You should definitely go back to the doctor who gave you the abortion pill, and you should tell them about both the bleeding and the cramping.  They should schedule you to come back and do an examination.  Let me know what happens.  
Doctor Joan

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Doctor Early Options

Expertise

We are a group of family doctors who provide abortion care for over a decade. We can answer any health or medical related questions about early abortion, including the aspiration procedure, the abortion pill (RU486), or surgical abortion. We run a practice called Early Options, located in New York City: http://www.EarlyAbortionOptions.com. The practice is dedicated to making early abortion part of mainstream medical care. There are other family doctors around the United States who practice a similar approach to early abortion care: see http://www.EarlyAbortion.com. Please do not ask "private" questions so that other women can learn from your experience. Please tell me what country you are from so that we can better help you.

Experience

Experience in the area: We are all board certified family doctors who have special training in early abortion and reproductive health. Dr. Joan Fleischman is the founder of Early Options (earlyabortionoptions.com) dedicated to making early abortion part of mainstream medical care. Organizations: National Abortion Federation American Association of Family Physicians

Education/Credentials
Dr. Joan Fleischman, Founder M.D., Harvard Medical School M.P.A., John F. Kennedy School of Government

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