If you are considering a medical abortion or have already taken the abortion pill, you may be wondering how much bleeding is normal and when it becomes a warning sign.
Bleeding is an expected part of this process. The difficulty is knowing when it stops being an expected side effect and becomes an emergency, and that knowledge can protect your health.
Keep reading to learn more and contact Oasis Medical Center for a free pregnancy and pre-abortion consultation, so you can understand your pregnancy and your options before making any decision. We are your best first step.
Why Bleeding Happens
The abortion pill is a two-drug regimen that the FDA has approved for use only through the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Mifepristone blocks progesterone and stops the pregnancy from developing.
Misoprostol, taken 24 to 48 hours later, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy. Bleeding and cramping are how your body completes this process, so every woman who takes the abortion pill will bleed.
What Bleeding Is Expected
After misoprostol, bleeding is typically heavier than a period and often includes passing clots and tissue.
Bleeding usually peaks within a few hours and eases within a day, though lighter bleeding and spotting can continue for several weeks. Some cramping, nausea, and a low-grade fever may come with it.
When Bleeding Is Too Much
Heavy bleeding is a known risk of medical abortion, and it can turn dangerous. Seek medical care right away if you:
- Soak through two or more thick pads per hour for two consecutive hours or longer
- Pass clots larger than a lemon for several hours
- Feel dizzy, lightheaded, or faint
- Have a fever lasting more than 24 hours
- Notice foul-smelling discharge or pain that grows worse instead of better
These can signal hemorrhage, infection, or an incomplete abortion, where tissue remains in the uterus. An incomplete abortion may require follow-up surgical care to stop the bleeding.
Why an Ultrasound Comes First
Before taking the abortion pill, an ultrasound confirms how far along you are to ensure that you are still eligible for a medical abortion.
An ultrasound also rules out an ectopic pregnancy, a condition where the pregnancy implants outside the uterus.
An ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency the abortion pill cannot treat.
We Are Here for You
Oasis Medical Center provides medical-grade pregnancy testing and confirmation of pregnancy by ultrasound at no cost to you.
Our licensed medical professionals will review your results and answer your questions in a calm, confidential space, so you never have to sort through this alone.
Contact us today to schedule your free and confidential appointment.
