How to Monitor Progress of a Medical Abortion Procedure?

 

A medical abortion may cause normal side effects like dizziness, headaches, abdominal pain and cramps, lightheadedness, mild fever for a short while, nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, etc. These symptoms are part and parcel of a normal medication pregnancy termination process. However, monitoring these abortion pill consequences ensures your wellness, and detect signs of rare complications, which we will discuss in this blog.

Abortion First Step: Mifepristone Side Effect

The initial pill to have during the start of an early pregnancy termination is Mifepristone 200mg. It is also available as Generic RU486 and Mifeprex among other brand names.

·       Intake Method: Consume the pill orally with water. It sheds the uterine lining and prepares the cervix for the next step of abortion.

·       Possible Outcomes: While most do not experience any outcomes to Mifepristone, some may encounter spotting and nausea.

Second Medication: Monitoring Misoprostol Symptoms

Misoprostol administration (4 x 200mcg pills – up to 8 to 12 pills in total sometimes depending on dosage recommendation), happens after 24 to 48 hours, in a phased-out way if you are taking more than 4 pills at once. It is the active duration where most side effects occur, indicating that the medication abortion is going on fine.

·       Morning Sickness: Nausea and vomiting may start soon after Misoprostol consumption (highest risk when taken sublingually or buccally, and lowest when inserted vaginally). Take antiemetic medicine an hour before Misoprostol to prevent these effects.

·       Pain and Cramping: Abdominal pain and cramps happen from uterine contractions caused by Misoprostol to remove all the pregnancy tissues. You may experience these 2 to 4 hours after the prostaglandin dosage. Use pain relievers or heating pad / hot water bag application for relief.

·       Bleeding Vaginally: Heavy vaginal bleeding may begin 3 to 4 hours after the Misoprostol dosage. Use large sanitary pads and avoid tampons or menstrual cups. If bleeding does not occur after 24 hours as well, consult a doctor. The blood flow reduces once the pregnancy is expelled. But even if light or spotting, it may continue for 2 to 6 weeks.

·       Systemic Impact: Dizziness, headache, tiredness, etc. means you should stop yourself from making any sudden movements. Relax and rest as much as possible and have ready access to a washroom to limit walking around.

·       Gastric Issues: Stomach upset such as diarrhea, is possible. Avoid spicy and heavy meals. Eat light and nutritious. Stay hydrated by drinking enough electrolyte drinks and water. Limit caffeine intake.

When to Seek Medical Attention?

While it is easy to manage medical abortion symptoms and side effects by yourself, at times complications (rare) may occur, needing professional assistance:

·       If severe pain is unmanaged by pain meds or other techniques. Or, if the bleeding is still heavy after a couple of weeks, and you feel pregnant.

·       If there is extreme dizziness, losing consciousness risks, a high fever over 24 hours, and profuse bleeding with pain at one side of the abdomen (probably sign of an ectopic pregnancy), or foul-smelling and unusual vaginal discharge (infection or sepsis).

·       If you soak large sanitary pads (2 at least) in an hour, and this happens for the next 2 hours as well, it could be a sign of excessive bleeding.

·       If there is no period even when 8 weeks go by after a medication pregnancy termination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common queries about medical abortion process monitoring:

1.       How do I confirm if the medical abortion was a success?

Natural ways to understand the success of abortion pills is reduction in heavy bleeding, cramping, and pain after a week or 10 days. Other symptoms such as nausea, headache, dizziness may also go away in a few days. To get a proper confirmation, an ultrasound scan of the abdomen is recommended (after a couple of weeks of the abortion pill schedule) to check if the uterus has emptied successfully.

2.       What if bleeding is absent after Misoprostol dosage?

Sometimes you may need more than 4 x Misoprostol 200mcg pills to cause pregnancy expulsion. But if bleeding does not happen even after 24 hours of taking the recommended number of extra Misoprostol doses, consult a healthcare professional for pregnancy evaluation.

3.       Is it normal to find large blood clots during abortion?

Since the endometrial lining sheds and the pregnancy tissues get purged, the bleeding will contain large clots, sometimes as big as a lemon or grape-sized ones. This is a normal expectation.

4.       How soon can I continue with my normal chores and activities?

Most women can get back to light and non-physically-straining chores in a couple of days of a successful abortion. However, go easy on yourself and avoid heavy lifting, and strenuous activities for the initial few days as you are still recovering from the procedure.

5.       When can I have sex after a medication abortion?

The abortion bleeding reduces significantly after a week or two, turning to light flow or spotting but lasting for a few weeks. The cervix may remain somewhat open initially after abortion as well. It is advisable to avoid vaginal intercourse until bleeding ends or lightens. Use birth control to restrict an unplanned pregnancy once sexually active.