When did menstruation occur after an abortion? Women who have had experience with abortion and curettage are often troubled by this issue. Here is the answer.
A word or two about abortion and curettage
These two things are often equated, but here's the difference.
Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy, whether it is a miscarriage or a medical procedure that intentionally and directly removes the fetus.
When we talk about the medical procedure, then, among other things, we are talking about curettage.
Curettage is a procedure by which a special instrument (curette) removes the layer of the endometrium and it is done not only for the purpose of abortion (but in many cases when it is necessary to remove the layer of the endometrium, for example, due to excessive bleeding between cycles)
Abortion can also be performed as an operative procedure (like curettage), but there is also an abortion pill which is a less painful variant of abortion (and which you also have as an option only in hospitals because it is not quite simple and harmless, although it sounds so). In that case, we are talking about a medical abortion with the pill.
Now that we have explained the difference, the question remains:
When did menstruation occur after an abortion?
Early pregnancy is a period of great hormonal changes, and when you will get your period after an abortion depends on the period of pregnancy that was terminated. The body needs time to bring the hormones back into balance.
However, so far the following has been shown:
The first menstruation after an abortion should occur in a period of 4-8 weeks.
There is a big difference between 4 and 8 weeks, you will say.
The truth is that everybody "cures" itself from the termination of pregnancy and returns to normal at its own pace. And while for some women, curettage will reset the menstrual cycle, which will then continue to function normally, some women may notice differences in their menstrual cycle after abortion or curettage.
How long does bleeding last after an abortion?
Bleeding after curettage is not the same as menstruation. In a way, the body thus removes all the remains of the endometrium after the procedure and cleans itself. This lasts only a few days and stops very quickly and turns only into a brownish secretion.
Depending on the procedure used, bleeding after abortion can be more or less abundant.
Curettage will cause shorter bleeding after abortion -
Medical abortion with the pill will cause more bleeding with clots
If the bleeding is abnormally heavy (if you use more than 2 pads per hour), lasts longer than 8 weeks (even in traces), or is accompanied by pain and fever, contact your doctor.
The time after abortion is not the right to use tampons or menstrual cups, especially after curettage.
However, when bleeding passes after an abortion, many women are tormented by the question of what will happen to the first next cycle, when it is established and whether they can expect some changes then.
Changes in menstruation after abortion
After curettage, spontaneous abortion, and termination of pregnancy, the body gives a signal to various organs that the pregnancy is no more and the preparation for a new pregnancy begins.
And when will menstruation occur?
If the pregnancy is terminated in the first trimester, menstruation should return within 12 weeks at the most.
However, if it does not appear after 8 weeks, it is not bad to consult your doctor, especially if you still have pregnancy symptoms. Then it may be necessary to do a revision because not all traces of the fruit have been removed. Delaying the first menstrual period after an abortion does not always have to be a cause for concern. This can happen because the body simply needs time for the hormones to return to normal after pregnancy, as a result of stress, if you have suddenly gained or lost weight, if your immunity has dropped or if you are pregnant again.
If the termination of pregnancy was in the second trimester, menstruation needs more time to occur. Up to 2 months, it is completely normal for menstruation to be delayed after an abortion in this case.
In addition to the body falling out of rhythm, the abundance of bleeding can also vary.
Bleeding during the first menstruation after abortion and curettage may be easier than usual.
Read why short menstruation occurs.
It happens, and vice versa - that the bleeding is more abundant and accompanied by clots. This happens more often when it comes to medical abortion with the pill and when it comes to the first menstruation after a miscarriage. If the bleeding is abundant here enough to soak two pads in an hour, consult a doctor.
Some women reported the following symptoms after the abortion, which appeared up to 2 years after the procedure: severe symptoms of PMS, back pain, fatigue, chest pain before menstruation. Menstrual pain can also occur.
All in all, it is not uncommon for menstruation after an abortion to be different from the one you are used to, so keep a close eye on yourself. If the bleeding is heavy, you have pain and fever, it is something that should not be considered normal and the reason is to call a doctor. Everything else depends on how your body will cope with the new situation.
The author:
@Andjela99
