Post-Abortion Bleeding and Pain: What to Expect & When to Worry

Question
QUESTION: i was 6 1/2 weeks pregnant and on advise of the doctor took mtpill. i took them twice.one in the evening and other the day after. and i bled severely that day.i also passed some clots not big enough though. but there was one tissue that was quite big.the whole day i bled and after that i am stil bleeding but not so severely, but i am experiencing pain in the stomach.i dont know if the abortion was succesful or not and the doctor has scheduled an d&c for the next week. i m not sure if it is safe and required.what are your suggestions...plz help.thank you

ANSWER: Dear Moumita,
Everything that you describe as far as the bleeding sounds completely normal with the pill.  However, you should not be having continued pain for more than 8 hours after the misoprostol.  If you are having pain, it is likely that the pregnancy tissue did not completely pass, and may have gotten stuck in your cervix.  If this is the case, you will need a D&C or a procedure to remove the tissue.  I'm sorry this has been so difficult for you.
Doctor Joan

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank u for ur quick reply.....i needed to knw if d&c is safe?i have read stuff abt it on the net and am quite scared to go for it. i m unmarried n after reading abt all the risks associated like puncturing the uterus , infctn and all, i m just too scared.is it safe and is there a lot of pain associated?also....afetr i go thru all this,will anyone ever know by any test that i had ever been pregnant?thank you again for ur answer....

Answer
Dear Moumita,
A D&C is very safe.  It is one of the safest procedures.  With any procedure, you will have to sign a consent regarding the things that could possibly go wrong, but they are rare.  From your story, you may not even need a D&C - the doctor may be able to remove the tissue in the cervix wtihout entering the uterus.  Where do you live?  
It is not possible for anyone to know you were pregnant or had an abortion.  There is no medical reason you would even need to tell a doctor.
I hope this is helpful,
Doctor Joan