The period after an abortion often returns fairly quickly, but some women may not see their menstrual cycle return to normal for several months following the procedure. A woman can ovulate as early as two weeks following the termination of a pregnancy. How quickly a woman’s period returns after an abortion, however, can vary from individual to individual and depending upon how far along the pregnancy was at termination. The period after an abortion returns in much the same way as a period after miscarriage.
The reason the period after an abortion may be delayed or irregular is because the body may retain some pregnancy hormones. The body may feel the effects of those hormones for several weeks after the pregnancy is terminated. One of the changes these hormones cause in the body is the suppression of ovulation, without which there is likely no period.
If the pregnancy was terminated in the first trimester of the pregnancy, the period after an abortion will usually return within four to 12 weeks of the procedure. The first period following a surgical abortion may be lighter than normal and may not last as long as usual, or it may be normal. If the first period is significantly heavier or longer than normal, the woman should consult her physician. If the woman had a medical abortion, one that was induced by medication, usually in a pill form, she may experience a heavier period than normal during the first cycle following the termination of the pregnancy.
There may be some effects on the menstrual cycle for up to two years after an abortion. The period may not resume its normal cycle and may not occur on a regular cycle. The amount of time the period after an abortion lasts, the amount of bleeding, and the amount of cramping may change from cycle to cycle for several months. Some women report having symptoms of pregnancy, such as swollen breasts, fatigue, and back pain, at the time of their periods for several months following an abortion. Some women also report more clotting, pain, and premenstrual syndrome symptoms in the first periods following an abortion.
The decision to have an abortion is often one that is stressful for women. Abnormal amounts of stress can affect the menstrual cycle and may cause changes in the period after an abortion. This may occur even if the physical effects of the pregnancy and the abortion have subsided.
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ElizaBennett
Post 3 |
@manykitties2 - Sure, going on the pill will give you regular periods after any pregnancy (or at any time), but keep in mind that these are not real "periods." The pill will mask your body's real cycles. You might then go off the pill and have irregular cycles again. (For me personally, it took me ten months off the pill before my fertility returned, and then a few more months before I was able to get pregnant.)
There is some evidence that diet affects your menstrual cycle. Newsweek published a big study a while back about the effect of diet on fertility. Now, they were concerned with people getting pregnant, but logic would suggest that the same dietary changes would encourage regular periods. They suggested more plant protein, less animal protein, regular exercise, good sleep at night, much less sugar/white flour/etc., and - the surprising part - less fat-free dairy and occasionally eating some whole-milk dairy.
Some people also say that you can encourage regular periods by sleeping in a totally pitch-black room. You might then sleep with a nightlight on for a few nights around the time you should be ovulating, but other experts recommend just always staying in the pitch black. |
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Mae82
Post 2 |
Stress can really wreck havoc on your periods and in my opinion nothing is more stressful than getting an abortion. My closest friend was forced to have a medical abortion after it was discovered that her fetus had some serious deformities that would have caused major complications later on in her pregnancy.
My friend was very emotional after her abortion and ended up falling into a deep depression. Her period didn't return until after she began taking mood regulators that helped to calm her down. The doctor told us that intense periods of stress can stop your period for months on end.
If you find your period hasn't returned after your abortion you should talk to your doctor about it, especially if you are under a lot of emotional stress. |
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manykitties2
Post 1 |
For those that find themselves with an irregular period after an abortion sometimes it can help to go on birth control. A lot of the problem with getting your body back on a regular schedule comes from the hormone levels in your body. An abortion does not allow your body to naturally adjust back to pre-pregnancy levels.
Taking a birth control pill that provides you with progesterone can really improve your chances of returning to a regular cycle quickly as progesterone levels drop a lot after an abortion. Another benefit of taking a birth control pill with progesterone is that it has been rumored to help prevent PCOS and fibroids. |
