Expected Changes in Periods After an Abortion Process

When we talk about invasive or non-invasive abortion, changes that a woman encounters especially with her menstrual cycle are the initial concern. If you want to understand period changes after abortion, then keep reading because we will first discuss what are the stages of a normal period and when you can expect it to return after pregnancy termination. We will also cover the type of bleeding you may experience and what you should do during recovery from the procedure to better care for your health.

Then we will proceed with the effect of particular abortion pills on your menstruation. Finally, we will also talk about the major distinctions between abortion bleeding and menstrual bleeding.

What Happens to Menstrual Cycle After an Abortion?

A normal menstrual cycle reoccurs every 28 days. However, the time can vary from 21 to 35 days depending on several factors. Those with menstrual health issues may experience less or more gap between periods. For teenagers, periods are often irregular because of puberty onset. However, once you reach adulthood, the period should sync to regularity. A menstrual cycle is counted from the day you begin bleeding in a month and ends with the bleeding stopping on a particular date.

You go through three primary stages during menstruation, and we need to understand it before digging into a change in the period after abortion procedures.

1.     Follicular Stage: Starting on day one of your period, the follicular phase exists for about a couple of weeks. The pituitary gland situated in the brain, produces FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) at this moment. The hormonal action helps the ovaries to release a mature egg.
2.     Luteal Stage: Once the ovaries produce a mature egg, the process is known as ovulation. This time also exists for 2 weeks. Progesterone production occurs from the corpus luteum, an endocrine structure you see temporarily in your ovaries to prepare the body for conception.
3.     Shedding of Corpus Luteum: If pregnancy does not take place i.e. the egg is not fertilized by the sperm, the menstruation bleeding begins with the corpus luteum breaking down. The shedding causes the tissues to exit from the uterus and vagina, which is what the bleeding contains.

How Does an Abortion Change Your Period?

As you understand, menstrual cycles are a natural occurrence in a female. It is important for the steady maintenance of reproductive health. The absence of periods when you are sexually active is a sign you could be pregnant. You can check pregnancy through a blood test. However, a more accurate way to know the pregnancy weeks and fertilization location is an ultrasound scan of the whole abdomen. If you have an active pregnancy and do not want to continue, you may choose to abort either clinically or through pills.

•       Period After a Surgical Abortion: Now, your menstrual cycle may see changes according to the type of pregnancy termination technique applied. For instance, a surgical abortion does not cause much hormonal interference in the body. This results in a lighter first period after abortion, and the cycle can be shorter. You can expect the first menstruation bleeding after a month or so after the procedure. Variations are possible in the blood flow as well. It may take a few cycles to revert to normalcy.
•       Period After Taking Abortion Pills: Similarly, if you use medicines to end an early pregnancy, the first period after medical abortion is usually heavier. Also, irregular periods may happen for the initial few months. The bleeding from the procedure is also heavier but may end in a couple of weeks or four. For some, it can take 4 to 6 weeks to get the first period thereafter. The menstrual cycle, though a bit unpredictable here, is normal and resumes the pre-abortion stage soon.

Period Changes After Abortion Pill Success

As discussed, a surgical pregnancy termination may not impact hormonal function in your body, we cannot say the same for an abortion pill procedure. Women choose the pill method for many reasons such as cost-effectiveness, privacy, a non-invasive process, and other benefits. As abortion medicines contain synthetic hormones and perform a change in the natural hormone structure to facilitate pregnancy termination, a change in period after abortion with medication is expected and nothing unusual.

Here is what you may encounter on taking the pills to end your first-trimester pregnancy and the following alternations in the menstrual cycle:

1.     Synthetic Progesterone: Mifepristone, which is a synthetic progesterone suppresses the release of progesterone that otherwise supports the development of the placenta and maintains the endometrial lining in the uterus. The resultant action is the breaking down of the endometrium so that the fetus detaches and the pregnancy does not go further.
2.     Synthetic Prostaglandin: Remember we had spoken about how corpus luteum is crucial for pregnancy? Mifepristone interferes with this and triggers the start of a medical abortion. Now, after 24 to 48 hours of Mifepristone, you take Misoprostol pills. These are synthetic prostaglandin, which causes uterine contractions.
3.     Pregnancy Exits the Body: These contractions are strong and effective to allow the uterus to empty. The result is, heavy vaginal bleeding exiting the sac, the fetus, pregnancy tissues, and the shed endometrial lining. Once the womb no longer contains the conception portions, the abortion comes to an end.
4.     Menstrual Cycle Alterations: If you think the period changes after abortion, it is correct, especially the blood flow. It is heavier than usual, while a few may get a lighter flow. The menstrual cycle can arrive anywhere between 4 and 6 weeks. If it takes more time, and you have engaged in unprotected intercourse, get a pregnancy test. As the pill changes ovulation with hormonal changes, your first period after abortion may vary from your expectations.

To Conclude

Your period returns after pregnancy termination. However, it can take a few weeks before the first menstrual period. Bleeding during and immediately after ending the pregnancy is not the same as period bleeding. While the former is related to the abortion procedure of emptying the uterus, and the release of blood clots of minor tissues after a successful evacuation of the womb, the latter is related to ovulation and the formation of the corpus luteum.