Excessive bleeding is very uncommon. The normal amount of bleeding will vary from woman to woman. Some may have very little bleeding or no bleeding at all. Most commonly, women begin bleeding soon after taking the misoprostol on the second day. The bleeding usually lasts for 5 to 7 days, then spotting for a week. Some women can have spotting for as long as 2 weeks. You may pass clots and bleeding may seem to increase when you get up suddenly or go to the toilet. Do not be alarmed or frightened if you pass any clots or see tissue. If the amount of bleeding increases so that you are soaking one maxi-pad an hour for two hours in a row or passing clots larger than a lemon, call the clinic.

You will probably experience cramping for a few days that is similar to cramping with a menstrual period. Cramping is usually caused by the opening of the cervix and subsides once the clots in the uterus are expelled. You should be able to obtain relief by taking Motrin (800mg with food or milk every 6 to 8 hours) and by using a heating pad or hot water bottle. You can also use Aleve or any generic brand of Naproxen if you prefer. You may use Extra Strength Tylenol if you are allergic to ibuprofen or naproxen. If the cramping is severe or prolonged, and you are not getting relief from any of these methods, call the clinic.

Feelings of relief, guilt, sadness, elation, or depression are common and may be stronger than normal due to the hormonal changes that occur after an abortion. Most women find these feelings, or others, do not last very long. However, if you do have disturbing thoughts about the abortion, or negative feelings that will not go away, consider counseling. It can be helpful to discuss these emotions with your partner or parents or caregivers. If you wish, we can help you find a counselor to help you cope with and resolve these issues so that you can move forward in resuming your life.

Your follow up exam in two (2) weeks is necessary. There is no fee for this. If you prefer to see your regular doctor, or if you come from a distance (the Islands, another city/state/country), we will be glad to send your regular doctor a letter (with your permission) providing pertinent medical aspects of the abortion so s/he can perform the 2-week follow up. During your follow up exam, we will check you to make sure that everything is OK, and we will make sure that you have a good birth control plan. In some cases, we will give you more misoprostol pills to take to expel any debris or clots. At this appointment, we can discuss any aspect of the experience that you are unclear about.

Please be assured that your referrals of family members and friends to Women & Teens Healthcare (WAT) will be treated professionally and confidentially. Our mission is to “Provide the highest quality of care, safety and cleanliness to our patients.” We provide the full spectrum of care to our patients through the stages of a women’s reproductive life, including family planning, contraceptive and abortion care, obstetric services, as well as STD testing and treatment.

“Relief” is often the word used to describe the experience. Legal abortions allow your health and well-being to be safeguarded while providing the opportunity for future normal pregnancy; giving us a society of children born by choice.