All across social media, women express concern post-abortion. They ask about the bleeding and pain associated with a medical abortion, or the worry of not knowing if their abortions were complete. Abortions, whether medical or surgical, are not merely “simple medical procedures.”
Women are often hesitant to get aftercare. We get it. No one wants to be judged or lectured for a decision they’ve already made, but the team at Choices prioritizes your health and well-being after an abortion.
Like peeling back the layers of an onion, professional abortion aftercare must address both the physical and emotional aspects of the experience. While the outer layer may deal with the physical consequences, the deeper, inner layers reveal the emotional side.
We offer free, confidential abortion follow-up care. Your experience is safe with us.
Peeling Back the Layers: Physically
“Should I go get an ultrasound after I take my pills? How will I know the abortion fully worked and the fetus is out? I see people saying 3 weeks after they didn’t get it all out and they started to get blood clots and could have died.” An anonymous Reddit user.
Before any medical procedure, you meet with your healthcare provider, review your health history, and discuss your scheduled procedure. The healthcare provider might cover the side effects to expect or the risks involved with the procedure.
However, that’s not often the case with abortions. If you ordered abortion pills through the mail, the provider trusted you knew precisely how far along you were in your pregnancy and whether you had any reasons for possible physical complications.
Both a surgical and medical procedure involve bleeding and cramping, but what one woman might describe as extreme pain, another would describe as normal period cramps. The abortion provider can explain what might happen after taking the abortion pills or post-surgery, but every experience is unique.
“Abortion went fine, so I thought? Unsure if this is normal. I went through and did the pills. Went through about a week of bleeding and cramping and I thought it was done.. .Today I wake up and I leaked through my underwear and shorts I wore to bed, and when I went to the bathroom there was quite a bit of blood. Is this normal and my body is just still getting rid of the pregnancy?” An anonymous Reddit user.
It’s hard to know if your situation is normal without thoroughly explaining what to expect. How much bleeding is too much? Is it normal to experience this much pain? How do I know if it’s completely done and over with? These are typical questions every woman asks.
A Follow-Up Exam Is Critical
An exam after an abortion is vital to protecting your overall health. A healthcare provider ensures you’re not experiencing any physical complications.
At Choices, a free, confidential follow-up physical exam may include the following:
- A urine pregnancy test.
- An hCG blood draw.
- An ultrasound.
- A pelvic exam.
We may refer you to the local emergency department if we discover serious complications.
Peeling Back the Layers: Emotionally
“I had a pregnancy termination at 12 weeks. I am not able to sleep, eat, or concentrate on anything. Will I ever get better?” An anonymous Reddit user
Abortions can also affect your mental health. Once again, though, every woman’s experience is unique. Some women feel only relief after their abortions, while others struggle immediately. For some women, the emotional struggle doesn’t begin for weeks, months, or even years.
The deepest layer of the onion is how you feel emotionally about your abortion. If you’re struggling emotionally, we are here for you. Your well-being isn’t just physical; it also includes how you feel about what’s going on.
No one wakes up and says, “Gee, I hope I have an abortion today!” The reasons women choose abortion are personal and complicated. Behind every abortion, there is a story that perhaps you feel you are unable to tell to those around you.
Whatever you are feeling, your emotions are valid. Your experience is individual, and you are not alone. At Choices, we offer emotional follow-up care when you’re ready. You can choose one-on-one consultations or group meetings. Both are completely free and confidential.
Contact Choices for a free and confidential medical follow-up by filling out our Contact Form, calling or texting (423) 266-8322, or by chatting with us online.
Be confident and assured that your health is safe and secure. Connect with Choices today.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.