If you’re considering taking or have already taken the abortion pill, it’s important to know not just how the process works, but also the possible risks — including the risk of an incomplete abortion.
Understanding these risks ahead of time can help you make an informed decision, know what warning signs to watch for, and feel more prepared as you consider your next steps. You deserve to have clear, honest information as you navigate this decision.
What is an incomplete abortion?
An incomplete abortion occurs when a pregnancy is terminated, but not all the pregnancy tissue (fetal tissue, placenta, etc.) is fully expelled from the uterus.
If you are experiencing a incomplete abortion, it does not mean you are still pregnant. Rather, it means that some of the pregnancy tissue remains inside your uterus. This is a serious condition requiring you to seek immediate medical intervention.
If an incomplete abortion is left untreated it can lead to serious complications like heavy bleeding, infection, and the need for a surgical procedure to remove the remaining tissue.
What are the symptoms of incomplete abortion?
After a diagnosed miscarriage or taking the abortion pill, bleeding and cramping are normal as you pass the pregnancy. Typically, the bleeding increases until you see clots and pregnancy tissue. The bleeding lasts for a few hours and then decreases in amount and can last for a few days.
Seek medical attention if, after passing the pregnancy tissue, you notice the following symptoms:
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- Pain in the abdominal/pelvic regions or back pain that does not get better with pain medication
- Cramping
- Heavy vaginal bleeding (soaking more than two pads an hour for two hours)
- Passing large blood clots or pieces of tissue
- Low blood pressure, also known as hypotension
- Feeling faint or light-headed
- Increased pulse rate (100 beats per minute or more during periods of rest)
- Foul-smelling vaginal discharge
- A fever (temperature above 100.4 °F) or chills
How is incomplete abortion treated?
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the most common treatment for incomplete abortion is to repeat a dose of misoprostol. Depending on doctor recommendations and patient request, other methods such as uterine aspiration or expectant management may be considered instead.
Let’s break these down in more detail:
- Repeat dose of misoprostol
- According to Guttmacher Institute, treatment of incomplete abortion using a repeated dose of misoprostol is 99% effective at emptying the uterus if the pregnancy is 12 or fewer weeks.
- Uterine aspiration
- Uterine aspiration (also called suction or vacuum aspiration) is a medical procedure in which the cervix is dilated (opened) and a suction device is used to empty the uterus.
- Expectant management
- This involves waiting and allowing the uterus to empty its contents spontaneously. This method is not typically recommended due to low efficacy (lower success rates) and the timeline for such events to occur is unpredictable.
How common is this condition?
According to research, treatment failure of medical abortion using mifepristone and misoprostol occurs approximately 4.8% of the time and requires hospitalization at a rate of 0.3%.
If you’ve taken the abortion pill regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol and are experiencing troublesome symptoms, go to your nearest emergency room as soon as possible. Incomplete abortion requires medical attention.
Where can I go to learn more and get after-abortion support?
At LifeSpring we offer after-abortion support. If you have had an abortion and want to talk through any concerns or need help processing your experience, schedule an appointment to come see us.
Our trained, compassionate staff will offer you information, resources, and support with no judgment and at no cost. You are not alone.