Abortion carries several health risks, and infection is among the most serious.
Recognizing the earliest warning signs is one of the best ways to protect your health and seek prompt medical care.
In the days after an abortion, most women recover at home without any provider checking on them.
That means knowing what is normal and what is not is essential, whether you had a medical abortion or a surgical abortion.
Keep reading to learn more. And if you’re still weighing your options or seeking emotional support after an abortion, contact Voice of Hope Pregnancy and Family Center for any questions
Warning Signs of Post-Abortion Infection
It is crucial to understand the warning signs of a possible infection from a medical abortion or surgical abortion.
1. Heavy Bleeding
Light bleeding is expected as your body recovers, but heavy bleeding is a warning sign that something else could be occurring.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you soak through two or more pads an hour for two hours in an hour after a medical abortion, or have bleeding that’s heavy enough that you have to change pads every hour after a surgical abortion.
2. Fever
A fever is one of the clearest ways your body signals that something is wrong. After a medical abortion, contact your doctor if a fever begins after you take misoprostol or lasts longer than 24 hours.
After a surgical abortion, report any fever promptly rather than waiting for it to pass.
3. Foul-Smelling Discharge
Some discharge is expected after an abortion, but an unusual or foul odor is not. After either type of abortion, discharge that smells bad can be an early sign that an infection is taking hold.
4. Severe or Worsening Pain
Mild cramping is common during recovery, but intense or escalating pain is not. Severe abdominal or back pain that will not ease, or cramping that lasts beyond 48 hours after a surgical abortion, can point to retained tissue or a developing infection.
Why Untreated Infection Is So Dangerous
Infections often begin when pregnancy tissue is not fully removed, a situation known as an incomplete abortion.
If an infection is left untreated, you are at risk of developing sepsis. This life-threatening medical emergency happens when your body has an extreme, toxic response to an infection.
An untreated infection can also lead to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which scars the reproductive organs and leads to long-term complications.
If you suspect you might have an infection after an abortion, get medical help without delay.
You Have a Voice, and There Is Hope
Whether you have not yet had an abortion and are learning details about your options or have questions about recovery after a past abortion, Voice of Hope Pregnancy and Family Center is here for you.
Because abortion carries risks, learn more about your health and pregnancy before making a decision. We provide free pregnancy testing and a limited ultrasound scan to give you information you may not have yet.
We also provide after-abortion support if you have had an abortion and are carrying the weight of that decision.
Schedule your free, confidential appointment today.
Voice of Hope Pregnancy and Family Center does not provide or refer for abortions.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.