QuestionQUESTION: hello dr,
I am really tensed and worried. i hope u reply to me fast. i had mifeprestone tablet on 2nd march. i was 55 days pregnant. i had bleeding and passed some blood clots on the morning of 4rth march. it was there only for 2-3 hours(bleeding) then it was very light or no bleeding.
i took misoprostol on march 4rth night. after 2-3 hours i had bleeding. but that too did't last much. just for 2 days. and not very heavy.
today is 9th and since 2-3 days there is only slight spotting now and then. i have swelling on my left foot as well.
dn't know wht's wrong. do you think the abortion is incomplete? plz help....
thanks a lot.
NB: this is the second time i took these tablets. i had medical abortion in july 2008. and had heavy bleedng for 2-3 weeks. and periods resumed in 4 weeks.
ANSWER: Dear Laisa,
Did you get an ultrasound or examination before taking the abortion pill? This evaluation should have confirmed that the pregnancy is in your uterus, and is not ectopic, or growing outside your uterus. I'm assuming that since you know the length of your pregnancy, you did have an evaluation.
Assuming you had a confirmed intrauterine (inside the uterus) pregnancy:
From what you describe the medical abortion was not completely successful. The pregnancy may or may not have stopped growing, but it doesn't seem like you have bled enough to indicate that all of the tissue has passed. At 55 days you would expect heavier bleeding. I would go ahead and repeat the misoprostol - 800 mg in the vagina (put the four tablets in and just let them dissolve) or in the cheek (let it sit between your teeth and your cheek and dissolve for 1/2 hour, then swallow it). If this doesn't work, you should get an evaluation that includes an ultrasound.
I hope this is helpful,
Doctor Joan
EarlyAbortionOptions.com
New York City
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: thanks for ur reply.
i did not meet any doctor yet so no evaluation was done. i am sure that my last periods started on Jan 12th 2009 so it is on the 51st day that i took the first dose of tablets.
plz tell me something, if it is ectopic, then how could the bleeding start and i pass clotson the second day of taking mifeprestone? though it was passing clots and blood only for 3-4 hours.
same nite when i took misoprostol, bleeding started again but by morning it was minimal. now i have very light spotting at times only. and when i wipe with a tissue i see brownish discharge. its there only at times.
what do u think? waiting for ur opinion.
thanks..
AnswerDear Laisa,
There are four potential reasons for your not bleeding after taking the medical abortion tablets: 1) you were earlier than expected; 2)You took the incorrect dose, or took it incorrectly (see the directions I gave to you before); 2) it didn't work completely; or 3) the pregnancy is ectopic - the chances are very small, about 1/400, but in this situation you do have some bleeding. As I advised, I would take the tablets correctly, see if you have significant bleeding. If you don't, you need to get an evaluation.
I hope this is helpful,
Doctor Joan
EarlyAbortionOptions.com
New York City
