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Health

Post-abortion pain

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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In this article, we propose to find out why some women experience pain after an abortion, what are its causes and what is the prevention. But first, let's consider the concept of abortion itself. So, abortion is an artificial termination of pregnancy, which is usually performed at a period of no more than 20 weeks. There are two methods of performing an abortion: surgical and medical. The first method is direct surgical intervention, which is also called instrumental, the second is the use of special drugs.

And so, since one of the methods of abortion involves surgery, and this is, as a rule, a very unpleasant and sometimes painful procedure, during which the walls of the uterus are often injured, pain after this process is not uncommon.

Another reason for pain after an abortion is the reduction of the uterus to its natural size, since during pregnancy the woman's genital organ stretches as the fetus grows. But it is worth noting that if the process of artificial termination of pregnancy occurred at a short period, no more than 13 weeks, the pain may not bother the woman at all. But this already depends on each individual.

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Symptoms of pain after abortion

There are cases when abdominal pain after an abortion is caused by complications that arose during the operation: various microbes from the outside can get into the injured uterus, bringing in an infection. In scientific terms, the infection causes endometritis (inflammation of the uterine mucosa). In this case, pain is almost inevitable, so a visit to the doctor cannot be postponed.

However, there are characteristic signs that an infection could have gotten in during the operation to extract the fetus. If a woman complains of general weakness, chills, soreness of the cervix, pain in the abdominal region, as well as back pain after an abortion, then there is a possibility of infection.

Pain after an abortion may occur because the fertilized egg was not completely removed. Yes, this also happens. The remains of the fertilized egg prevent the uterine contraction process, so abdominal pain and lower back pain, as well as heavy bleeding often accompany a woman after artificial contraception.

It is also necessary to note that the cause of pain in the lower abdomen of a woman after an abortion may be premature physical stress on the body, such as active sports or a rapid resumption of sexual activity.

Pain after medical abortion

Let's now look at the causes of pain after a medical abortion. As mentioned above, a medical abortion is caused by special drugs that a woman must take strictly under the supervision of a doctor. Although this method is relatively safe, no one is immune from unpleasant consequences in the form of discharge and pain. Cramping pain after an abortion is often a consequence of the drug method. How can this be explained? The answer is simple: because of the drugs, the muscles begin to contract and push the fetus out of the vagina. Most often, the pain is bearable and more like menstrual pain. But if severe pain is observed after a medical abortion and continues for more than 2 days, you should urgently consult a doctor.

Diagnostics of the female body after an abortion

After an abortion, every woman must undergo a certain course of rehabilitation to avoid unpleasant and possibly sad consequences, such as infertility or the development of cancer. Diagnosis of pain and any complications after an abortion involves:

  • ultrasound examination of the mammary glands and genitals. This makes it possible to identify any changes in the structure of the ovaries, uterus, mammary glands of a woman and, if necessary, prescribe treatment.
  • diagnostic examination - colposcopy - which provides information about the condition of the uterine mucosa, cervix and vagina.
  • performing laparoscopy if there is a suspicion of tubal obstruction.

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Treatment of pain after abortion

If a woman shows signs of infection after an abortion: fever, low blood pressure, pain in the lower abdomen, general weakness in the muscles, etc., urgent hospitalization is necessary. The doctor prescribes intravenous antibiotic therapy, and also removes the remaining fetal tissue, if any. The therapy continues until the patient's condition improves. After the temperature and blood pressure return to normal, the patient stops taking antibiotics, replacing this method with oral therapy.

If the infection does not progress, affecting only the uterus, and there are no remains of fetal tissue, hospitalization is not necessary. The doctor prescribes a course of antibiotics and prescribes some restrictions on physical activity. Treatment of pain after an abortion implies that the woman must follow the doctor's instructions, which we will consider in the next subsection.

Mini abortions and their consequences

At the very early stages of pregnancy, up to 20 days, women can resort to mini abortions. This type of abortion can also be classified as relatively safe. To begin with, let us clarify that a mini abortion is performed by means of a special vacuum suction device that extracts the fetus. This operation not only reduces the risk of negative consequences of an abortion, but also does not require general anesthesia, unlike the surgical method, and is carried out for a short period of time. But the risk of complications is always present. In this case, the consequences can manifest themselves in the form of a nagging pain in the lower abdomen, as well as in the form of profuse bleeding. This happens because there is still a piece of the ovum in the uterus, which, of course, must be removed. It should be remembered that in order to avoid pain after a mini abortion and any other consequences, you need to follow some rules: do not carry heavy objects, do not strain yourself, do not play sports and have no sexual activity for a month. By following all the necessary instructions, a woman will maintain her health.

Abortion is not a natural process, but an artificial one, so carrying out such an unpleasant event is a great stress for the body. When a woman becomes pregnant, her body starts all the processes for the development and preservation of the fetus. But if this process is forcibly stopped, the body reacts painfully. Women's mammary glands are very sensitive to any changes in the body and therefore, often, after an abortion, a woman's breasts begin to hurt. It should be emphasized that chest pain after an abortion can also indicate various complications: mastopathy and even tumors. Yes, abortions are often the cause of swelling on the chest.

Prevention of pain after abortion

As mentioned above, abortion is dangerous due to its consequences, even if the artificial prevention of pregnancy was ideal. We would like to draw your attention to what needs to be done and what advice to follow in order to avoid complications. Firstly, you cannot take a warm bath - bathing is allowed only under the shower. Secondly, any physical activity is prohibited, including sexual activity. You can return to active life only after at least a month. Thirdly, a woman must strictly observe the rules of hygiene: 2 times a day, carry out hygiene of the genitals with warm water, preferably boiled, or a solution of potassium permanganate.

To avoid complications, the doctor usually prescribes a course of antibiotics to prevent possible infection; a course of hormonal contraceptives, which is prescribed on the first day after the abortion.

Compliance with all these rules will not only be a good prevention of pain after an abortion, but will also be able to preserve both the woman’s health and the health of future offspring.

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