After having an abortion, most women experience some bleeding, which is considered normal. Severe bleeding or passing large blood clots might indicate damage to internal organs from instruments used in the procedure and may require surgical repair. Infection also may cause bleeding after abortion if tissue remains in the uterus. When severe cramping occurs, it might indicate postabortal syndrome, meaning the uterus fails to contract to expel blood and clots.

A woman might bleed for six weeks during the abortion recovery period, and small clots usually pass with the blood. Normal menstruation commonly returns one or two months later, and menstrual bleeding after abortion might appear different than before the procedure. Hormonal changes may trigger heavier-than-normal periods, or lighter bleeding may occur when normal menstrual cycles return.

Cramping typically accompanies bleeding after abortion and might be eased with abdominal massage. This helps the uterus contract and return to its pre-pregnancy size as blood and clots are expelled. Massage is also used after childbirth to accomplish the same outcome.

The amount of bleeding after abortion might depend on the stage of pregnancy before the procedure. At four to seven weeks' gestation, a woman receives a general anesthetic before the doctor uses a machine to suction the fetus from the uterus. A medical instrument called a curette scrapes out any remaining tissue to prevent infection. During the second trimester, medication might be needed to soften the cervix before suctioning.

Women who use the abortion pill might experience increased bleeding after abortion, which occurs in about one of every 100 patients. The process usually consists of three medications over a period of three days, which is suitable for early abortion up to about 49 days' gestation. A doctor normally evaluates the patient a couple of weeks later to determine if the medication successfully aborted the fetus.

During the second trimester, bleeding after abortion might resemble bleeding after full term or premature childbirth. The patient receives medication to stimulate uterine contractions in a hospital labor and delivery room. After several hours, the fetus and placenta detach and are expelled from the uterus. A doctor typically uses a curette to scrape the uterus to ensure none of the placenta remains inside.

Some women experience pregnancy symptoms months after an abortion. It generally takes a few months before hormones adjust to pre-pregnancy levels. During this time, a woman might experience morning sickness, feel tired, or become emotional. Depression might also develop in some women.