When to Start the Pill After Abortion?

If you have an abortion, does it mean you can’t get pregnant? No, of course, you can. But if soon pregnancy is not on your list now, then you can talk to your healthcare professionals about the birth control pill. Here you will find out when to start the pill after abortion.

This question is usually asked after an abortion. Women are generally concerned about their contraception after the abortion. You can consult reproductive healthcare about the pill or even can use different types of contraceptive methods.

Here we will discuss everything you need to know about how and when to start the pill after an abortion. Before beginning let’s understand some basic factors.

1. What is an Abortion?

Abortion in simple words means “Termination of pregnancy”. When pregnancy doesn’t result in a birth of a child, whether it is due to unwanted pregnancy or any medical concern, then abortion is declared.

Abortion is usually done with surgery or with medicines to end the pregnancy.

2. Types of Abortion

Your doctor will recommend which type of abortion you should use according to your health choices. Based on your pregnancy month duration your reproductive healthcare professional will consult with you about abortion. There are two types of abortion, let’s take a look at both of them.

2.1. Medical Abortion

Medication abortion is a Plan C abortion, and this is usually the simplest abortion technique. When you take the pills for the termination of pregnancy it is called a medication abortion.

Medication abortion is a decent preference if there is an unplanned pregnancy. Medical termination is approved for women who are pregnant from 10 weeks. Medication abortion is a protected and effective option.

2.2. Surgical Abortion

Surgical Abortion is an “in-hospital abortion”. This termination is faster which results in not much bleeding. This method is also effective and helpful and is mostly done for the second trimester.

Surgical termination is approved for women who are pregnant for less than 14 weeks. This method is done by giving pain-relieving medicines like local anaesthesia.

3. When Can You Get Pregnant After Abortion?

If you are expecting to not get pregnant soon, you might be wondering when can you get pregnant after an abortion. You can ovulate again, even before your period returns whether you have surgical or medical abortion.

Therefore, if you want to stop your pregnancy you should start birth control that is, contraception immediately.

4. Contraceptive Methods

Contraception also means birth control. From the name, it is clear that it means a way to prevent pregnancy. Hormonal contraceptive methods are used when you don’t wish to get pregnant.

If you want to use these methods, here is a way. Now which method to use after abortion should be discussed with your doctor. You can communicate with your doctor about your previous ways of contraception.

The method your doctor prefers to you according to your lifestyle and health is safe and secure for you after an abortion. Your method of protection can be effective but always consider consulting your provider.

Here are the contraceptive options you can consider in your list after referring to reproductive healthcare.

4.1. Simplest and Shortest Method

To not get pregnant, you can take the contraceptive pill daily. You can also use condoms for protected sex. This is the simplest form of contraceptive.

4.2. Barrier Contraception Methods

Barrier methods are the methods that prevent sperm from entering the vagina. This includes condoms, which not only prevent pregnancy but also protect you against STIs.

4.3. Emergency Contraception Methods

Emergency methods add two possibilities to the list- emergency contraception pills or a copper IUD.

Here are the two ways and the best option for you to distinguish is according to your weight. If you are a normal weight, you can use emergency contraceptive pills for three days after unprotected intercourse. But if your weight is more than 70kg then you can use a copper IUD because contraceptive pills might not result in much effectiveness.

4.4. Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Method

Long acting reversible contraception methods last for a long period.  This method includes intra-uterine devices lasting for three, five or ten years. It also adds an implant method, lasting for five years.

Here is an advantage of taking this, you don’t have to use this method every day or even every month. This method is the most effective method to prevent pregnancy.

4.4. Permanent Contraception Method

This method is also known as sterilization. Permanent methods prevent all future birth controls, it is either vasectomy or tubal ligation.

Before moving on with this method, remember that it is impossible to reverse this method once done.

5. When to Start the Pill After Abortion?

When you don’t want to start or restart your pill, you might be wondering when to start it.

Based on your past experiences, your provider will advise you on your pill options. Your consultant will discuss when you can start your pill after the abortion. Generally, most hormonal contraceptive methods are preferable early. But you can consult your doctor before you take any contraceptive pills. In case the doctor prefers you to not take any pills for the respective time, you can use other methods of contraception immediately after an abortion like condoms.

6. When Can Your Contraception Start Working After Abortion?

The response to your contraceptive options depends on the method you use for it. Along with this, the type of abortion you used surgical or medical abortion. Here we will look at both medical and surgical implants.

6.1. Medical Abortion Contraceptive Implants

Most contraceptive methods are preferable to use before medical abortion. But taking the birth control option at the exact time of medical abortion can differ according to the type of contraceptive method you are using.

Consulting your doctor is a better option in every case related to your health. Therefore, your consultant will advise you about the method you want to choose.

To not risk getting pregnant, you can use another contraceptive method leaving IUD. This is because it needs an appointment in the clinic. You can use it immediately or after a few days of your medical abortion.

6.2. Surgical Abortion Contraceptive Implants

After the surgical abortion, contraceptive implants, contraceptive injections and pills are effective and can be considered to you after the surgical abortion.

It is highly recommended to use condoms after the abortion because after taking birth control pills after abortion for more than five days, you will need to use contraception for a week more to prevent getting pregnant.

There is a slight risk in inserting IUD because it can fall out if you insert it right after the surgical abortion.

7. Is It Okay to Not Select Any Birth Control Method on the Day of Abortion?

It is completely fine to not use any birth control method on the day of abortion. But also for backup, if you are not using any contraception, either do not have intercourse or use condoms to not get pregnant.

8. What are the Side Effects of Contraceptive Pills?

Even though the chances of not getting pregnant by taking contraceptive pill is high but still there are side effects of taking pills. These hormonal contraceptive pills affect the hormone level of a human being.

If the side effect of a pill, last for a long period, you can discuss with your professional. Take a look at the list of side effects you can go through while taking birth control.

8.1. Nausea

If the nausea is severe, it is best to talk with your consultant. Some women face this problem when they take the pill for the first time. To reduce this effect take the pill with food and at bedtime.

8.2. Headaches

Due to contraceptives, female sex organs can generate migraine. If your dose is high, the probability of getting headaches issues is high. It can increase the frequency of pain in the head. Therefore, consider taking not too-high doses of pills.

8.3. Mood Swings

When you take the pill, your hormones change and changing of hormones leads to a change in the mood of the person. Changing the pills may help if the mood swings are because of the pill.

8.4. Missed Periods

Intake of pills can lead to missed periods. If you are thinking you are pregnant you can take the test soon. Pills are generally effective, still, the improper use of pills may lead to pregnancy.

8.5. Vaginal Discharge

If there is any change in your vaginal discharge, it is not harmful. These changes can occur usually because of pills. Even though they are not harmful but change in color or smell of discharge can indicate infection.

8.6. Weight Gain

It is reported that contraceptive pills can lead to lead fat or an increase in the mass of muscle. But it is not confirmed yet that increase in weight is due to pills.

8.7. Tender Breast

Taking pills can lead to breast tenderness, which is quite normal. But consider consulting your doctor if you are going through severe pain in the breast or a change in breast lump. If you wear a supportive bra, it can reduce pain and tenderness.

Final Words

When getting pregnant is not on your list, you always wonder to find ways to not get pregnant. Even after an abortion you always have a concern, when can you start the contraceptive pill or how and what are the methods of not getting pregnant? This article is all about it.

You must have read about all the methods and how and when to start the pill after abortion but always remember to consult your reproductive healthcare. Before taking any contraceptives it is necessary to give preference to your health and consult your provider. This will not only make it easy for you to not get pregnant but also will save you from getting any unnecessary side effects.

Furthermore, if you are worried about what type of contraceptives you should use after an abortion, set an appointment with your sexual and reproductive healthcare professionals. Even if you want to change your contraceptive method consult and set an appointment with your doctor.

Also, when you take a contraceptive pill immediately after your abortion, it can lead to too many mood changes or not at all mood changes. Therefore, it is better either not to have any intercourse for at least a week or use condoms to not get pregnant. This is because condoms do not have any change in your mood or hormones.

FAQs

Q1. What to do if sperm entered inside?

If semen entered the cervix, there is no practical method to remove it though. But before removing semen to not get pregnant, contact your doctor. Doctors may provide you with emergency contraceptives.

Q2. Is it okay to switch birth control methods before abortion?

If you need to transform your birth control before abortion, it is okay. You can consult with your provider about this and they will recommend you the nicest options.

Q3. When will the periods return after abortion?

Mostly, women get periods on the day of their abortion. It is also normal for your periods to go on and off.