Medically Reviewed by Dr. Benjamin Johnson, MD

If you’ve recently gotten or are considering an abortion, you might be wondering how long you should expect to bleed. It’s important to know what to expect during outpatient recovery to ensure you receive proper care and seek medical attention, if necessary.

This article specifically explains how long you bleed after an abortion using mifepristone and misoprostol, commonly known as a medical abortion. If you have questions regarding other types of abortion, you can access more information here.

What Should I Expect?

Bleeding from a medical abortion should be expected. Determining how much bleeding is normal after an abortion will vary based on individual factors as well as how far along you are in your pregnancy. To know how much bleeding is normal, consider how much you typically bleed during a heavy period.

The bleeding you experience during a medical abortion is the result of the embryo and lining of the uterus being expelled through the vagina. This is why your bleeding will most likely be heavier than a typical period. It is possible that you will see the expulsion of the gestational sac or embryo while you’re bleeding.

You can expect to experience heavy bleeding for 1-2 days after the procedure. Bleeding should gradually taper off, getting increasingly lighter over 1-3 weeks. While you’re experiencing bleeding, you should avoid sex and only use sanitary pads until the bleeding stops. To avoid infection after the procedure, you should not insert anything into your vagina for at least two weeks, including tampons.

Common Side Effects

The most severe side effects of a medical abortion will begin soon after you take the second pill (misoprostol). After both doses of medication have been taken, you will likely experience some or all of the following side effects:

• Bleeding and cramping that starts between one and four hours after taking the second pill.
• Heavy bleeding with blood clots for several hours.
• Heavy cramping for several hours.
• A low fever or chills that last about a day after taking the second pill.

Other potential side effects include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Chills
• Diarrhea
• Headache

Causes for Concern

During recovery, you’ll want to monitor side effects and know when to seek medical attention. If possible, you should have someone staying with you in the immediate days following your procedure or, at the very least, checking on you frequently. While medical abortion is seemingly simple, it is still a significant medical event. The additional support will give you peace of mind, an advocate in the event of complications, and may also provide needed emotional support as you process your experience.

The most emergent complications to look out for following the procedure are hemorrhaging and infection. If you are experiencing heavy bleeding – soaking two or more pads per hour for two hours – or are experiencing severe abdominal or back pain, you should go to your nearest emergency room or call an ambulance if you cannot get yourself there. Additionally, a fever lasting longer than 24 hours or foul-smelling vaginal discharge can be indicative of infection and requires seeing a medical doctor.

Addressing excessive bleeding or infection early is key to successful recovery. If you have any concern that you’re experiencing abnormal side effects, it is best to seek medical attention immediately.

Follow-up Care

You should see your healthcare provider for a follow-up appointment within two or three weeks after your procedure. During your appointment, your provider will likely perform a pelvic exam and look for signs of infection. She should also check your uterus with an ultrasound to make sure the abortion is complete.

During your follow-up appointment, you should talk to your doctor about your emotional well-being and any additional support you may need. In the days and weeks following your procedure, you may experience emotions of relief, loss, sadness, and guilt. These feelings are normal and can be both situational and hormonal.

As your body adjusts to no longer being pregnant, hormonal changes following an abortion can be the same as hormonal changes after miscarriage or birth. To learn more about hormonal fluctuations after an abortion, visit our article here.