Understanding the warning signs of post-abortion infection is important so you can protect your health and seek urgent medical attention if needed.
Common side effects of abortion are cramping¹ and heavy bleeding². If bleeding worsens after a few days or you’re experiencing symptoms such as fever, then it could be a sign that you have an infection. You should seek medical treatment at a local hospital immediately.
If you are struggling emotionally after an abortion, we offer post-abortive care at our center. We also offer pregnancy services for women who may be dealing with an unexpected pregnancy and want to learn more about their options.
Schedule a confidential appointment today to get support. We are here for you.
Common Signs Of a Post-Abortion Infection
Both surgical and medical abortions can cause cramping and bleeding after the procedure.
Signs of an infection³ can include:
- Heavy bleeding, such as soaking two or more pads per hour for two consecutive hours
- Fast heart rate
- Chills or body aches
- Foul-smelling odor from the vagina
- A fever that lasts more than 4 hours or starts in the days after misoprostol
- Severe abdominal pain that gets worse instead of improving
- Persistent dizziness or lightheadedness
How Infection Can Occur After an Abortion
A post-abortion infection is caused by bacteria that have entered the uterus or an incomplete abortion⁴, where there is retained tissue in the uterus.
Although the risk of infection for both types of abortion is low, there is still a risk of infection. This is especially possible if aftercare instructions are not followed properly, such as refraining from sexual intercourse⁵ for two to three weeks or missing your follow-up appointment.
It’s important to get medical help quickly if you notice any signs of infection. Infection could lead to complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease⁶ (PID), which has the potential to lead to infertility or an ectopic pregnancy⁷.
Get Post-Abortion Support at Crossroads
If you’ve had an abortion and need extra support emotionally, there is no shame in seeking help. Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center is here to give you compassionate and confidential post-abortion support, free from judgment and at no cost.
If you have an unexpected pregnancy and are considering abortion, we encourage you to learn about all your options available and the risks and considerations that come with each of those options. You should also get a lab-quality pregnancy test and an ultrasound before moving forward, since this provides you with important medical details that can affect your decision.
We provide options information at our confidential appointments to give you everything you need to know. You don’t have to go through this alone. We are here to help.
Schedule your no-cost, confidential appointment with our team.
References
- Cleveland Clinic. Dilation and Curettage (D&C). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/dilation-and-curettage#:~:text=cramps%20similar%20to%20menstrual%20cramps%20after%20a%20D%26C
- Cleveland Clinic. Medical Abortion. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21899-medical-abortion#:~:text=Vaginal%20bleeding,-and%20cramping%20are
- Mayo Clinic. Dilation and Curettage (D&C). https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dilation-and-curettage/about/pac 20384910#:~:text=Contact%20your%20health%20care%20team%20if%20after%20a%20D%26C%20you%20have%3A
- StatPearls Publishing. (2024). Dilation and Curettage. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559071/
- Cleveland Clinic. Medical Abortion. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21899-medical-abortion#:~:text=Wait%20at%20least%20two%20to%20three%20weeks%20to%20have%20intercourse%20after%20a%20medical%20abortion.%20
- Mayo Clinic. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352594
- Mayo Clinic. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) – Ectopic Pregnancy Risk. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pelvic-inflammatory-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20352594#:~:text=Ectopic%20pregnancy.,-PID%20is%20a