Signs of Pregnancy After Abortion: What to Look For

Your body gives several signs to indicate you’re pregnant. These signs work as cues and help women identify they might be pregnant. It is due to these signs that women know they must take the next step and use a home pregnancy test or see a doctor for pregnancy confirmation.

But what about women who have had an abortion? Do they get similar signs of pregnancy after abortion, or do they have it any different? Let’s find out in this informative blog post.

Yes, it is possible to get pregnant in the weeks following an abortion. When a woman gets an abortion, her menstrual cycles begin as usual. Ovulation typically happens around day 14 of the menstrual cycle. This means one can get pregnant after two weeks following the procedure if they have the regular 28-day cycle.

For others, whose cycles are shorter, ovulation may happen sooner, and one may get pregnant sooner than 2 weeks, while those with longer cycles may ovulate later in the month.

Another factor that determines the chances of pregnancy after an abortion is how long you were pregnant before terminating the pregnancy. As hormonal shifts due to pregnancy take some time to get back to normal, your menstrual cycle, ovulation, and pregnancy chances change accordingly.

In this section, you will find what to expect when it comes to signs of pregnancy after having an abortion.

Missed Periods: One of the major indicators of pregnancy is a missed period. While there can be other causes of missed periods besides pregnancy, if you haven’t gotten your period after an abortion in the timeframe suggested by your doctor and you were involved in sexual activity, you might be pregnant.

Nausea: Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of pregnancy. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, you could be pregnant.

Breast Tenderness: Many women wonder - ‘Is breast pain before period normal?’ Well, it is usually normal. So, your breasts may feel swollen and tender to the touch. Look out for this sign if you suspect pregnancy following an abortion.

Tiredness: Pregnancy brings tiredness and fatigue along. You may continue to feel tired even after resting for usual hours.

Sensitivity to Smells: Some women develop sensitivity to certain smells after conceiving. So, watch out for this sign and see if you are suddenly disliking or feeling nauseous after sensing specific smells.

Food Cravings: Craving new foods or disliking old favourite foods is also a sign of pregnancy. Pay attention to any changes in appetite you might be experiencing around this time.

Abdominal Cramps: Though abdominal cramps are usually associated with periods, experiencing mild cramps in the abdomen can also indicate pregnancy.

Urinating Frequently: Ideally, after you’ve had an abortion, your urination frequency must get back to normal. However, if you begin using the restroom more frequently weeks after the procedure, you might be pregnant again.

Emotional Changes: Mood changes like anger and irritability can occur due to hormonal changes in the body associated with pregnancy.

GI Issues: Gastrointestinal troubles like constipation and bloating can come up once again if you get pregnant after an abortion.

It is natural to experience certain symptoms during recovery after an abortion. Symptoms like fatigue and nausea are often prevalent after the procedure, though these symptoms also fall in the category of signs of pregnancy. So how can you differentiate between post-abortion symptoms and pregnancy signs?

Pay attention to the timing and intensity of your symptoms. Symptoms related to abortion usually appear immediately after the procedure, whereas those related to pregnancy appear one or two weeks later. They may appear even later if you have a longer menstrual cycle.

Furthermore, abortion-related symptoms tend to fade away with time as your body tries to get back to normal. However, symptoms of pregnancy will get more pronounced with time.

If you suspect a pregnancy after an abortion, you must test using a pregnancy kit for confirmation. But it can be tricky to get an accurate result with a home pregnancy test if you’re checking too early. Your body may still contain hCG hormone from your previous pregnancy, which can lead to a false positive in a home pregnancy test that relies on detecting hCG hormone for confirming pregnancy.

To avoid getting a false positive, you can either wait for at least three weeks before testing for pregnancy so that your body has sufficient time to bring the levels of hCG hormone back to normal. Or, you can visit your doctor if you suspect you’re pregnant. They can order you a pregnancy blood test or use an ultrasound to check if you’re pregnant or not.

Doctors recommend waiting at least 1-2 weeks before you resume sex after an abortion. This is advised to minimise the chances of infection following the procedure. To ensure safety, it is best to discuss with your doctor if it will be safe for you to get pregnant again. Your doctor will assess your situation and suggest you appropriately.

Signs of pregnancy after abortion are similar to pregnancy symptoms one experiences when they get pregnant without a history of abortion. If you notice symptoms like nausea and vomiting, breast tenderness, and food cravings or aversions in the weeks following the termination of a pregnancy, it could point towards a new pregnancy.

It is best to make an appointment with your doctor to determine if you’re pregnant or not. They will run some tests or use an ultrasound to see what’s going on and suggest next steps.

How soon can I get pregnant after an abortion?

It is possible to get pregnant soon after having an abortion. Use contraceptive measures if you don’t want to get pregnant again.

How long after an abortion do pregnancy symptoms go away?

Pregnancy symptoms typically go away in 1-2 weeks after an abortion. If you experience these symptoms longer or your symptoms reappear, you might be pregnant again.

When will I get my period after an abortion?

Period returns anywhere between 4-8 weeks after an abortion. If you don’t get your period and you’re experiencing pregnancy symptoms, take a pregnancy test or see your doctor.

Are pregnancy signs post abortion same as regular pregnancy symptoms?

Yes, signs of a new pregnancy following an abortion are the same as regular pregnancy symptoms.

After how many days pregnancy can be confirmed by urine test?

If you are not sure about the date of your next period, take a urine pregnancy test at least 21 days or 3 weeks after you had unprotected sex.

Do you need to do anything extra to get pregnant after an abortion?

No, getting pregnant after an abortion needs no special preparation. Your doctor may advise you to wait until your next period before trying to conceive again to make estimation of the delivery date easier.

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