Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Is It Necessary To Have Vaginal Bleeding After Having Misoprostol And Mifepristone?
Question: I am 6 weeks pregnant. I took 1 tablet of mefepristone and then after 24 hrs 2 tab of misoprostol. I had slight cramping, diarrhea and a sticking clear discharge but no bleeding. After 12 hrs I had 2 tab of misoprostol. Its been 8 hrs but no bleeding or cramping has occured. What should I do now? Im getting very stressed.
Brief Answer:
As below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.
First of all let me explain the process of medical abortion to you in detail.
Firstly, the pregnancy should be confirmed by a doctor , preferably with an ultrasound scan.
So it is not just enough to have a positive home pregnancy test, but it is vital to consult a gynecologist and have a pelvic ultrasound scan.
This has two purposes.
It dates the pregnancy accurately, because these abortion pills work only within a narrow frame of time.
Secondly, it confirms that the pregnancy is inside the uterus, rarely, there is a condition called ectopic pregnancy ( pregnancy outside the uterus ) which is very dangerous.
After confirming the pregnancy, tablets are taken by prescription.
Generally 1 tablet of Mifepristone is taken orally, 48 hours later 4 more tablets of Misoprostol are taken orally or inserted vaginally.
Bleeding with cramps starts in a few hours, and lasts heavily for a few days.
Spotting might continue for 15 days or more.
It is compulsory to have a follow up scan after 15 days to establish that the uterus is empty and the abortion is now complete.
Pills are more than 96 % effective in early pregnancy, however rarely there maybe complications such as - heavy bleeding, infection, failure of pills leading to surgical abortion , fainting etc.
Hence it is a must to keep a doctor in the loop throughout.
Generally bleeding begins within 6 - 8 hours, but in women women it might take upto 24 - 48 hours.
So wait for 24 hours more, and then consult your doctor if there is no bleeding at all.
Did you vomit the pills out at any point ?
All the best
Please feel free to discuss further.
As below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.
First of all let me explain the process of medical abortion to you in detail.
Firstly, the pregnancy should be confirmed by a doctor , preferably with an ultrasound scan.
So it is not just enough to have a positive home pregnancy test, but it is vital to consult a gynecologist and have a pelvic ultrasound scan.
This has two purposes.
It dates the pregnancy accurately, because these abortion pills work only within a narrow frame of time.
Secondly, it confirms that the pregnancy is inside the uterus, rarely, there is a condition called ectopic pregnancy ( pregnancy outside the uterus ) which is very dangerous.
After confirming the pregnancy, tablets are taken by prescription.
Generally 1 tablet of Mifepristone is taken orally, 48 hours later 4 more tablets of Misoprostol are taken orally or inserted vaginally.
Bleeding with cramps starts in a few hours, and lasts heavily for a few days.
Spotting might continue for 15 days or more.
It is compulsory to have a follow up scan after 15 days to establish that the uterus is empty and the abortion is now complete.
Pills are more than 96 % effective in early pregnancy, however rarely there maybe complications such as - heavy bleeding, infection, failure of pills leading to surgical abortion , fainting etc.
Hence it is a must to keep a doctor in the loop throughout.
Generally bleeding begins within 6 - 8 hours, but in women women it might take upto 24 - 48 hours.
So wait for 24 hours more, and then consult your doctor if there is no bleeding at all.
Did you vomit the pills out at any point ?
All the best
Please feel free to discuss further.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
No I did not vomit the tablets out. I had taken the tablets with the doctors consultation. I had taken 1 tab of mifepristone then after 24 hrs I took misoprostol orally after which I got sticky clear discharge and cramps but no bleeding. After 12 hrs I took 2 tab of misoprostol orally but no sign of bleeding or cramps. Is the method in which I took the tablets right? I had done home pregnancy test which was positive. Should I go for sonography to confirm? Or wait 24 hrs?
Brief Answer:
Get a scan done
Detailed Answer:
Yes you have taken the tablets quite correctly.
An ultrasound is a must before taking these tablets, for reasons mentioned above.
Yes, please get a scan done.
Get a scan done
Detailed Answer:
Yes you have taken the tablets quite correctly.
An ultrasound is a must before taking these tablets, for reasons mentioned above.
Yes, please get a scan done.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Slight cramps and bleeding has started but there is no heavy bleeding. Is everything going the way it should go? When should I expect heavy bleeding to start?
Brief Answer:
Give yourself a few hours.
Detailed Answer:
Give yourself a few more hours, bleeding would get heavier gradually.
Let me know by tomorrow if it doesnt.
Give yourself a few hours.
Detailed Answer:
Give yourself a few more hours, bleeding would get heavier gradually.
Let me know by tomorrow if it doesnt.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Bleeding has incresed though it is not very heavy. It is same as that during periods. No clots. Is it necessary for the clots to go for a successful abortion?
Brief Answer:
As below.
Detailed Answer:
See, you did not have an ultrasound scan.
In the scan, exact days of pregnancy are calculated, and if the pregnancy is very early, sometimes the bleeding will be just like a heavy period.
Clots will inevitably follow, please wait.
You will know if the abortion was successful or not , only when you have a follow up ultrasound scan after 15 days.
Take care.
As below.
Detailed Answer:
See, you did not have an ultrasound scan.
In the scan, exact days of pregnancy are calculated, and if the pregnancy is very early, sometimes the bleeding will be just like a heavy period.
Clots will inevitably follow, please wait.
You will know if the abortion was successful or not , only when you have a follow up ultrasound scan after 15 days.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
