After your surgical procedure, you will be escorted to our recovery area where you will rest and be monitored for about an hour. There, you will be given your follow-up instructions and antibiotics.
You must return for a check up two weeks after your surgical procedure to ensure that your procedure was completely successful and that you are healing well. At this follow-up appointment, you will receive an exam and will have the opportunity to discuss and receive contraception, if you wish.
If you chose the non-surgical procedure, you may go home immediately following your procedure. The first medication does not cause any pain or adverse symptoms, so you will not require a recovery period in the office.
We ask that you schedule your follow-up appointment for a non-surgical abortion before you leave the office. You should schedule your appointment for two weeks after you expect to insert the Misoprostol. It is mandatory that you return for your follow-up so that we can ensure that your procedure was successful and that you are healing well. At this follow-up appointment, you will receive an ultrasound and exam and will have the opportunity to receive contraception, if you wish.
How heavily will I bleed?
After the surgical procedure, some women will not bleed at all while others may have medium to heavy bleeding. This bleeding normally slows down after a week or two. Spotting may occur for a couple weeks after the procedure. Spotting may last until your normal menstrual cycle resumes, which normally takes four to six weeks.
The non-surgical procedure will also cause bleeding, which is the desired effect, as you are miscarrying. Your bleeding may saturate up to four or five pads per hour. You should monitor your bleeding through this process and record it on your symptom log. Bleeding will normally slow down a few days after the Misoprostol insertion and once the pregnancy tissue has been passed. The tissue is normally passed within 24-48 hours after insertion of the pills, but may occur up to one week later. You should expect your bleeding to last for one to two weeks and eventually turn to spotting, which may last for four to eight weeks until your next normal menstruation.
What are my follow-up instructions?
Regardless of the type of abortion you have had there are some precautions which you must take to avoid complications. You should not insert any foreign objects into your vagina until you have been cleared at your follow up examination. You are strongly advised not to have sexual intercourse or use tampons. You should also avoid tub baths, douching or swimming during this time. The reason for this is that your cervix, the entrance to your uterus, has been opened by the abortion. Until your cervix closes completely, any bacteria that enter your vagina can easily travel to your uterus and cause a serious infection. Intercourse could also delay the closing of the cervix, leaving you vulnerable to infection for a longer period of time.
You are also advised to avoid strenuous exercise and any heavy lifting (25 lbs or over) until your follow-up exam. If you require a note for school or work, let the staff know at the time of your appointment and they will have the doctor write one for you. The note will not say that you had an abortion- merely that you have undergone medical treatment and your physician requests that you be excused from gym class or put on light duty at work.
Complete instructions, precautions, and symptoms to watch for will be detailed on the literature given to you at your appointment to take home with you. If you have any questions or concerns about your recovery, you can call us 24 hours a day at 888-226-7846.