Abortion is a procedure for ending a pregnancy artificially. Like any medical intervention, even the most seemingly safe one, abortion can have adverse consequences. One of the most common complications is bleeding after an abortion.
Norm or pathology
Before the termination procedure, the woman should be explained how much and when blood can be released, and in what situations to seek help. Bleeding after termination of pregnancy always occurs, with any method of termination.
The important fact is that post-abortion bleeding, although similar in volume, is not menstrual flow.
When terminating a pregnancy, bleeding occurs due to rejection of the fertilized egg and associated vascular damage, and not due to expulsion of the endometrium, as during menstruation. Termination of pregnancy can be carried out only in the first 20 weeks of gestation. Abortion during the period of intrauterine development up to 12 weeks is performed at the request of the woman, regardless of the course of pregnancy, and in later stages - strictly according to doctors’ indications. An exception is made only for pregnancy up to 22 weeks, if it occurs as a result of rape.
The following methods are used for medical termination of pregnancy:
- instrumental method (“curettage”);
- removal of the fertilized egg using a vacuum aspirator;
- medical abortion using drugs that terminate pregnancy.
The choice of method for terminating a pregnancy is up to the woman and is determined by the capabilities of the medical institution to which she applied. Each method has its pros and cons. But absolutely any termination of pregnancy is fraught with the development of pathological bleeding.
After a mini-abortion, does blood have to flow?
The sin of killing an innocent baby.
voice of a child in the womb: Mom, do you hope that when you kill me, you will forget about me?
Do you hope that you will have other children, more desirable and needed than me? How am I worse than them, Mom?
Mom, how will you look into the eyes of my future brothers and sisters without knowing what color my eyes are?
Mom, why is everything so difficult for you, adults? You would never drown a puppy or kitten, would you? You'll feel sorry for him. Why don't you feel sorry for me?
Do you hope that you will have other children, more desirable and needed than me? How am I worse than them, Mom?
Bleeding after instrumental abortion
Instrumental abortion is one of the most common gynecological operations. But despite this, this type of abortion is rightfully considered the most traumatic and associated with the development of serious complications.
During instrumental interruption, the cervical canal first expands. Then a curette with sharp edges is inserted into the uterine cavity, and the entire endometrium, including the fertilized egg, is “blindly” scraped out. Naturally, this causes injury to the uterine walls, damage to blood vessels, and therefore bleeding is inevitable.
It is difficult to say how long the bleeding will last after such an abortion. Each woman is individual, and it is impossible to predict how her body will behave after surgery. On average, blood is released within 10-28 days. The discharge is similar to menstrual discharge, but for several days there may be heavy bleeding with clots. Then the discharge becomes pink, and then spotting brown and gradually stops.
Sometimes, in the case of an incorrectly performed operation, when parts of the fertilized egg remain in the uterine cavity or a through puncture of this organ occurs, massive bleeding develops. In this case, against the background of heavy discharge, the woman feels weak, the skin becomes pale and covered with sticky sweat, a drop in pressure and loss of consciousness may occur. This condition requires urgent medical attention. To stop bleeding, repeated “curettage” may be necessary, and sometimes, in especially severe cases, even removal of the organ.
Treatment of a dangerous condition
The condition in which blood accumulates in the uterine cavity is called hemotometra. There are additional reasons why this complication occurs.
In addition to cervical spasm, which is impossible to predict, this is caused by a polyp located in the cervix and blocking the passage or a tumor. Blood can also stagnate due to endometrial cancer. It is impossible to induce bleeding at home. Some folk “healers” give advice on how to induce bleeding after an abortion - they suggest having sex with a partner.
Under no circumstances should this be done! An infection will likely enter the body and sepsis may develop - blood poisoning. This condition is dangerous not only for health, but also for life. Hematometra treatment is carried out in a hospital setting.
Depending on the clinical picture, uterotonic drugs that enhance the contractile activity of the uterus or antispasmodics that relax smooth muscles may be prescribed. Vacuum aspiration may be necessary to remove accumulated secretions and clear the uterine cavity.
If the problem cannot be solved with medication, the uterine cavity is probed or hysteroscopy is performed - during this operation, the cervix is dilated and a device is inserted into it, which projects everything that happens in the uterine cavity on a screen. This procedure examines and treats at the same time.
If the inflammatory process has already worsened, then it is necessary to use antibiotics. Sometimes antiseptics and antibacterial agents are introduced into the uterine cavity using the same hysteroscope.
Bleeding after vacuum aspiration
Vacuum aspiration of the fertilized egg is performed exclusively in the early stages of gestation (during pregnancy up to 9 weeks). This method is considered less traumatic. Under local anesthesia, an aspirator is inserted through the lumen of the cervical canal into the uterine cavity. The fertilized egg is separated from the uterine wall by vacuum. This can be done either manually or using an electric vacuum suction device. The uterus remains intact during such manipulations.
Bleeding after a vacuum abortion begins on the second day and lasts about two weeks.
In this case, the amount of discharge should be small. If bleeding lasts longer than expected or becomes heavy, a complication has probably developed. In this case, you urgently need to see a doctor. The causes of complicated bleeding are incomplete removal of the fertilized egg and/or a violation of the blood coagulation system.
Features of vacuum abortion
The presence of discharge after vacuum cleaning is a sign of self-cleaning of the uterus. They are observed for a short time and begin immediately after the procedure. On average, the body recovers in 1–3 days, but much depends on the state of health and individual characteristics.
Some women may experience scanty discharge after vacuum aspiration for 6–10 days. This duration is due to the fact that the abortion was performed when menstruation was delayed on the eve of the critical days.
Brown
One of the signs of a successful vacuum abortion is brown discharge. If they are odorless and the woman does not feel pain or discomfort, this condition is considered normal for the body. When interacting with oxygen, the blood coagulates and darkens, which is why the brown tint appears.
Usually such discharge lasts 2–4 days. In cases where they do not stop and the volume increases, it is necessary to see a doctor.
Doctors consider the absence or sudden cessation of discharge after vacuum aspiration to be dangerous symptoms. After a mini-abortion, the uterus is restored. Damaged areas of the endometrium and injured vessels heal, and all excess is removed.
It accumulates in the uterus, which causes congestion, inflammation and infection. Such conditions are accompanied by severe cutting pain in the abdominal area, high fever, and weakness.
After performing a mini-abortion, the gynecologist explains to the patient what will happen to her body. This is necessary so that the woman notices the pathology in time and goes to the hospital in a timely manner.
On the first day after the procedure, scarlet mucous clots begin to stand out, accompanied by a small amount of blood. This way the uterus is cleared of fetal and endometrial remains. On day 2, the discharge becomes more abundant, it looks like menstruation. Do not be alarmed if brown spotting appears instead of scarlet blood - this is coagulated blood, but if the discharge after a vacuum abortion is accompanied by an unpleasant odor, the woman should be wary. In the first days after a mini-abortion, the stomach or lower back may feel tight.
Bleeding after medical abortion
Medical abortion is considered the most gentle method because it does not cause mechanical damage to the structure of the uterus. Termination of pregnancy using abortifacient medications is carried out only at short stages of pregnancy. To do this, they use a powerful hormonal agent that blocks progesterone, the main hormone of pregnancy, resulting in embryo rejection and active contractions of the uterus.
Sometimes a medical abortion can be performed at home. The pill is taken after an appropriate examination in the doctor’s office, under his guidance. Bleeding should start within two hours. Contracting drugs may be administered to enhance uterine contractions. Along with copious bleeding, a pink round clot comes out - the fertilized egg. After two days, the woman should see a doctor and tell her whether a “miscarriage” has occurred.
Bleeding after a medical abortion lasts up to a month, and the menstrual cycle is restored within a maximum of six months.
This is due to hormonal changes in the body. If during the first three days after pharmaabortion the bleeding intensifies, it means complications have arisen. They can be caused by either incomplete release of the fertilized egg or a blood clotting disorder.
Bleeding after abortion
Blood flows after an abortion in any case, the only question is whether the discharge is normal or pathological, and how long it lasts. After all, after an instrumental and medical abortion, the discharge should normally be different.
Types of abortion, features of the procedure
To date, almost every third woman has encountered such an unpleasant and painful intervention in her body as abortion. Abortion is the termination of pregnancy by artificial means, which by law can be carried out up to the 20th week of pregnancy. At the moment, there are several popular methods for this process: medication, vacuum and surgery. After the procedure for termination of pregnancy, the woman continues to suffer the consequences for some time, which are bloody discharge, the scale and duration of which depends on the method of abortion itself.
During a medical abortion, appropriate drugs are introduced into the woman’s body that affect the fertilized egg so that it detaches from the wall of the uterus. Thus, the fetus comes out along with blood, as during menstruation, only small blood clots are observed, which are elements of the fetus. Bleeding after a medical abortion is the longest and can smoothly transition into the next menstruation, lasting a month. Most often, after this the discharge ends.
A vacuum abortion, or mini-abortion, which experts call the most gentle for a woman’s body, is performed in the early stages, between the 4th and 14th weeks of pregnancy, under local anesthesia or anesthesia using a thin rod with a loop. Bloody discharge with this type of abortion lasts from 3 days to a week, at first it is abundant with clots, and then it smears and becomes very scanty.
During a surgical (instrumental) abortion, also called cleaning or curettage, direct contact of surgical instruments with fetal tissue occurs. This method is considered the most dangerous and entails a lot of consequences, including subsequent miscarriages or infertility. Doctors are forced to perform this type of abortion in late stages of pregnancy, for medical reasons or in case of unsuccessful vacuum or medical abortion, when particles of the fertilized egg could remain inside the cervix. To do this, first dilate the cervix and vibrate the fetus with a special instrument. During a surgical abortion, bleeding lasts from a week to two, with clots and pieces of broken tissue.
It is important to remember that with any method of terminating a pregnancy, bleeding is a normal and healthy process. Blood cleans all paths from pieces of tissue, this prevents any infection from penetrating into the still fresh and open layers of the endometrium. The bleeding begins very profusely, has a dark color, and there are clots and pieces. Then the blood becomes lighter, and its characteristic color approaches shades of light brown and yellow, then it gets dirty and stops completely. After a while, the next period comes, which, due to interference in the body, can shift from your schedule. You should be alert if there are other impurities in the blood that resemble manure and have an uncharacteristic odor.
Return to zmystBleeding after abortion, causes and signs
There are cases when a woman not only experiences spotting, similar to menstruation, as it should be, but begins bleeding after an abortion (when you can use two maxi pads in about an hour). The reasons for this may be:
- unsuccessful operation to terminate pregnancy, removal of the fertilized egg;
- disturbances in the functioning of the uterus, low contractility and activity;
- trauma to the cervix or vagina with instruments during intervention;
- reaction of the contractile function of the uterus to anesthetic drugs that are administered before abortion;
- remnants of fetal tissue, poor cleaning during abortion;
- infection during or after surgery of any degree;
- taking hormonal medications;
- stress;
- exercise stress;
- poor blood clotting.
Bleeding may be accompanied by high temperature, fever, general malaise, rapid heartbeat, possible loss of consciousness, nausea and vomiting. In this case, you need to go to the hospital: the doctor should order an ultrasound to make sure that the uterus is clean and all the remains have come out of it. Then they are tested for infection, because the temperature gives reason to believe that it exists.
Return to zmistPersha help with bleeding, what do you need to know?
Both severe bleeding and complete absence of discharge are very dangerous. After an abortion, a woman should in any case experience bleeding. If there are none, it means that there is a possibility of uterine spasms, which prevents blood from coming out, and all the residues after surgery remain inside and can lead to serious complications in the woman’s health. It must be remembered that if bleeding begins, you need to:
- First of all, call an ambulance, since it is impossible to stop the bleeding on your own, and blood loss can have a bad result;
- take a lying position and try not to move or make sudden movements;
- put something cold on the lower abdomen to reduce bleeding at least a little;
- place a pad in the intergroin area, preferably a night maxi;
- place a pillow under your feet so that the blood flows towards the brain;
- do not take any painkillers.
In order to avoid provoking another attack of bleeding after treatment, you must follow the following recommendations:
- rest more, protect yourself from any stressful situations that excite the nervous system;
- do not take medications at your own discretion, only on the recommendation of a doctor;
- give up bad habits and, at least for the time until the body returns to normal life, eliminate alcohol and cigarettes;
- exclude any physical activity and lifting heavy objects;
- do not go on any diets, eat foods that are healthy and necessary for the restoration of the body, rich in vitamins and minerals;
- exclude sexual relations until your attending physician gives permission for them;
- do not use tampons to protect yourself from infection and new bleeding from still fresh wounds;
- Make regular visits to the doctor: supervision by specialists is necessary for the proper course of recovery.
It is important to know that after an artificial termination of pregnancy, you must be under constant medical supervision, do an ultrasound, take the necessary tests and follow all the instructions and recommendations of a specialist.
This is done in order to be able to get pregnant in the future and safely carry a child. After all, miscarriages in the early stages occur precisely among those who did not take their own treatment seriously after this intervention in the body. With an incorrect lifestyle and inattention to oneself, various problems can arise in a woman’s reproductive system, including the need to remove the uterus and infertility.
How to stop bleeding yourself
Women often wonder: how to stop bleeding after an abortion at home? There is only one answer to it: no way. If, after the termination operation, excessive bleeding begins, then this is a reason to immediately go to the hospital, because only a doctor can assess how dangerous the development of complications can be.
Signs of complications after abortion:
- bleeding did not start after a week;
- the bleeding that started stopped abruptly after a few days;
- there has been bleeding for more than a month after an abortion;
- the volume of discharge increases;
- bleeding is accompanied by weakness, pallor, drop in pressure, and severe pain.
An unfavorable symptom is both a sudden cessation of discharge, which carries the risk of hematometra (accumulation of blood in the uterine cavity), and increased bleeding. In order to determine the latter condition, you need to count how many night pads are used within an hour.
Bleeding is dangerous, especially for women with Rh-negative blood in their first pregnancy. This is due to the fact that Rh-positive antigens of the embryo enter the bloodstream. As a result, antibodies against foreign red blood cells begin to form in the mother's blood. The result of this is that in subsequent pregnancies the mother’s body “attacks” the baby’s red blood cells, causing severe hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn or miscarriage.
Making the decision to have an abortion is always difficult. Before taking this step, a woman must realize that even the safest methods of terminating a pregnancy can lead to complications. If uterine bleeding develops, immediately seeking medical help will help preserve reproductive function, and in some cases, life.
Prevention of complications in the period after abortion
To minimize damage to health after artificial termination of pregnancy, you must adhere to medical recommendations. Maintaining personal hygiene, taking prescribed medications and not having sex for 30 days will help restore the body. For the entire month, a woman should refrain from taking baths, lifting heavy objects, and avoid hypothermia.
Blood loss after an abortion can be replenished with iron-rich foods. The diet must include dishes from beef, liver, and eggs. Sometimes doctors advise taking special drugs against anemia, for example Sorbifer Durules or Fenyuls.
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After an abortion with curettage, quite a lot of blood is lost. Heavy bleeding continues for several hours. This is directly related to damage to the blood vessels of the uterine wall. After curettage, its entire inner surface is actually an open wound. The woman is under the supervision of medical personnel throughout the bleeding period. She is given medications that help contract the muscles of the uterus. The most common injections are oxytocin.
