If you are considering a medical abortion or have already taken the abortion pill, you may be wondering how much bleeding is normal and when bleeding could be a sign that something is wrong.
Vaginal bleeding and abdominal cramping will occur as part of the abortion pill process, but very heavy or prolonged bleeding can sometimes indicate a complication that requires medical attention.
Mosaic Sexual Health Clinic is here to provide confidential support and accurate information about your pregnancy and options.
Schedule a free appointment today to get the answers you need.
The Abortion Pill Causes Bleeding
The abortion pill, also called a medical abortion, involves two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol.
Mifepristone blocks progesterone, a hormone needed for pregnancy to continue. Misoprostol, taken 24 to 48 hours later, causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy, which leads to abdominal cramping and vaginal bleeding. Other possible side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, fever, or chills.
The amount of bleeding can vary from person to person. Some women experience bleeding heavier than a normal period. Blood clots up to the size of a lemon are considered normal.
How Much Bleeding Is Too Much?
Very heavy bleeding can be a sign that you need emergency medical care. Contact a healthcare provider or seek emergency medical attention if you are soaking through two or more full-size sanitary pads per hour for two consecutive hours.
You should also seek medical care if you experience symptoms such as:
- Feeling faint or dizzy
- Severe or worsening abdominal or pelvic pain
- A fever that lasts more than four hours or develops in the days after taking misoprostol
- Chills, body aches, or a rapid heartbeat
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
- Blood clots larger than the size of a lemon
Heavy Bleeding Could Signal a Complication
Heavy or prolonged bleeding can sometimes be a sign of a complication after a medical abortion. One possible complication is an incomplete abortion, which occurs when pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus and may require additional medical treatment.
In some cases, ongoing or heavy bleeding may also occur alongside infection. Warning signs of infection can include worsening pain, fever, chills, or feeling increasingly unwell.
Why Medical Screening Is Important
It is important to understand key details about your pregnancy before making a decision. A pregnancy test can confirm the presence of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), but it cannot determine:
- How far along you are (gestational age)
- Where the pregnancy is located
- Whether the pregnancy is developing
An ultrasound can provide important information about these details. Knowing how far along you are and where the pregnancy is developing can help identify concerns that may affect your health and options. For example, the abortion pill is only approved by the FDA through ten weeks of gestation.
Additionally, it’s crucial to know your pregnancy’s location. An ectopic pregnancy, though rare, develops outside the uterus. Severe one-sided abdominal or pelvic pain, shoulder pain, dizziness, weakness, or fainting may be signs of a ruptured ectopic pregnancy and require emergency medical attention.
We Are Here for You
If you are experiencing severe bleeding or believe you are experiencing an emergency, seek medical care immediately.
If you have questions about your pregnancy or are considering your options, Mosaic Sexual Health Clinic is here to help. We offer a free pre-abortion screening, which includes pregnancy confirmation via a limited ultrasound and accurate information about abortion.
Contact us to make your appointment.
Mosaic Sexual Health Clinic does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.