One of the questions we get a lot about medication abortion is when the next period will come and what it will be like. While everyone’s body responds a little differently to any kind of medication, here’s what you can expect with your period after taking abortion pills.
Mifepristone and misoprostol are the two FDA-approved medications used for medication abortion — a safe and effective way to end a pregnancy — through 10 weeks/70 days gestation. Misoprostol can also be used on its own for termination of pregnancy, but the combination of abortion pills is what’s typically prescribed by clinics in the U.S.
Both medications are extremely safe and effective. In fact, when comparing their rate of severe adverse outcomes with Tylenol, Viagra, or childbirth, abortion pills have significantly lower risk. Taking abortion pills also doesn’t have a long-term impact on fertility, mental health, or other significant health outcomes.
Research has shown that when abortion pills are prescribed through telemedicine is just as safe and effective as getting the pills and care in person.
Heavy bleeding, along with cramping, is one of the two main signs that a medication abortion is working to end a pregnancy. Some people may experience during and post-abortion bleeding and cramping that’s significantly more intense than their normal period, while others may experience the symptoms and side effects that feel similar to a regular period or premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Either is considered “normal.”
Bleeding is also often accompanied by blood clots or the passage of tissue (usually white or gray in color). How small blood clots are, or how much tissue is passed, depends on the gestational duration of the pregnancy.
Taking over-the-counter ibuprofen (Tylenol if you’re allergic to ibuprofen) and using a heating pad can help with aftercare cramping. Alternating ibuprofen with Tylenol every 3-4 hours (without going past daily limits) may be even more effective than just ibuprofen alone.
It’s important to follow up with a healthcare professional immediately if vaginal bleeding soaks through two or more maxi pads an hour for more than two hours.
We don’t recommend using tampons or menstrual cups within the first 24 hours of taking misoprostol because keeping track of the amount of bleeding can be more challenging.
After taking abortion pills, the uterine lining is thin and ready to start the menstrual cycle from the beginning — though it’s possible to get pregnant from unprotected penis-in-vagina sex right away.
Your first period after a medication abortion may begin about 4 to 8 weeks later, but light bleeding from the medication could still be happening on and off within that time. The first period after taking abortion pills may also be an especially heavy period.
If you decide to go on a hormonal birth control method after your medication abortion, you won’t experience vaginal bleeding until the placebo week in the pill pack (the last seven pills). (Bleeding while on hormonal birth control isn’t a “true” period because ovulation won’t have occurred most of the time.)
First: Everyone has a different “normal” when it comes to periods.
After an abortion, it’s not uncommon for the next few cycles to have somewhat irregular periods as pregnancy hormones leave the body. Typically, pregnancy hormones will be gone by 4 to 6 weeks after an abortion.
There are a number of ways to confirm that medication abortion ended a pregnancy:
If you’re currently less than 11 weeks pregnant and need to access abortion care in CA, CO, CT, DE, HI, IL, MA, MD, ME, MN, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI, VT, VA, or WA Juniper Midwifery can help. After completing an intake assessment, our clinicians will review your information to make sure medication abortion is a safe option for you. Once your eligibility is confirmed and you’ve paid for your care, it’ll take about 2-4 business days for your medication to arrive. (You can also choose rapid shipping for $35 when checking out for guaranteed 1-2 business day shipment).
Juniper Midwifery patients who would also like a consultation and prescription for contraceptives can get them for free as part of their abortion care.
For any of our patients who need additional support or medical advice, our clinicians are here for you. Please reach out to us with any questions through our secure messaging app, Spruce. Organizations like the Reprocare Healthline, All-Options, Exhale Pro-Voice, and Connect & Breathe also provide free, anonymous, and nonjudgmental emotional support for people accessing abortion care.
