Patient's question:
I just finished a medication-induced abortion. Today is the first day after completing the 3-day medication course. I've been bleeding a lot.Could you please tell me how much bleeding is considered normal after taking the medication? How long does the bleeding usually stop if it's normal? Also, I'm still experiencing some abdominal pain—does this count as normal?
Doctor's answer:
Hello: The following information is for reference:A small number of pregnant women can have a miscarriage by taking mifepristone alone. 80% of women expel the gestational sac within 6 hours after taking prostaglandin drugs; about 10% expel it within 1 week. Therefore, it is important to monitor the expelled tissue if there is any bleeding. If tissue is expelled at home, it must be brought to a doctor for examination to determine if it is gestational sac tissue.
Based on whether the gestational sac is expelled or not, follow up at the medical institution where the medication was administered within 8 to 15 days after taking the drug, as prescribed by the doctor, to determine the effectiveness of the medication abortion. If medical personnel determine that the medication abortion has failed or is incomplete, an artificial abortion procedure must be performed to terminate the pregnancy.
Although the gestational sac is expelled during medication abortion, the decidua tissue in the uterus is gradually expelled, so the bleeding period is longer, averaging 18 to 20 days. Some women may develop anemia or complications such as endometritis or pelvic inflammation due to excessive bleeding and prolonged bleeding. Therefore, medication abortion must be performed at medical institutions equipped with emergency dilation and curettage procedures and intravenous fluid administration, under the guidance of specially trained doctors. Patients must take the medication as prescribed, monitor their condition, and follow up regularly to identify and address any issues promptly.
In rare cases, if a pregnant woman experiences severe bleeding, abdominal pain, or fever, she should seek immediate medical attention at the medical institution where the medication was administered.
Even if medication abortion is successful and the woman is otherwise healthy, effective contraception measures must be taken after the procedure. Clinically, it has been observed that many women do not experience menstruation after medication abortion or become pregnant again shortly after without using contraception. In fact, whether it is artificial abortion or medication abortion,