QuestionQUESTION: I received the medical abortion pill last month, around May 22, 2008. After I took the pill I bled for about 7 days. It is now June 23 and I have not received a menstruation again. I only had sex once since then and used a condom. What could be the problem?
ANSWER: Dear Keisha,
It is completely normal to have irregular bleeding after the abortion pill. It is normal and common for the bleeding to stop and start, or to miss a period. The only concern would be if you were pregnant again, and this sounds unlikely if you used a condom reliably. Your periods will come back to normal, eventually.
I hope this is helpful,
Doctor Joan
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Do you know why this happens?
AnswerDear Keisha,
We don't know why women have irregular bleeding after the abortion pill. It probably has to do with the pregnancy hormones. The abortion pill blocks the receptors on the uterus from pregnancy hormones, and may then influence the regulation of the normal hormonal cycle. This is certainly the most annoying and difficult aspect of a medical abortion. This is why many women choose the aspiration procedure (a nonsurgical early abortion procedure) over RU 486. The good thing is that your regular periods will definitely come back to normal.
I hope this is helpful,
Doctor Joan
Earlyabortion.com
Earlyabortionoptions.com
New York City
