Abortion
Day 13 after abortion: the ovaries start working again
Day 13 · Recovery after abortion
On day thirteen there is no visible change on the calendar; almost two weeks have passed since the procedure and you are waiting for your first period. Still, your body has begun preparing for the next cycle.
This preparation starts in the ovaries. This page explains, step by step and without giving days, the sequence from the fall of the pregnancy hormone to the rise of oestrogen. Then it shows where ovulation and the first period sit in this sequence.
Short answer
When do the ovaries start working again after an abortion?
After an abortion, as the pregnancy hormone (hCG) falls, the ovaries start working again: follicles grow and oestrogen rises. According to SoftCare Clinic, ovulation can return about two weeks after the procedure, sometimes earlier; pregnancy is possible before the first period. That is why a condom is used every time until the first period. A home pregnancy test is misleading in the first 15 days.
Hormones and the first period
As the pregnancy hormone falls, follicles grow and oestrogen rises.
Hormone curves on a line from the procedure day to the first period; the stage of follicle growth and rising oestrogen is marked.How do hormones return to normal after an abortion?
During pregnancy the blood contains the pregnancy hormone, hCG. After the procedure this hormone starts to fall, and as it falls the ovaries come back into play.
The fall is not completed in a day. According to the clinic, depending on the week of the ended pregnancy, a home pregnancy test can be positive for about 15–20 days and can stay positive for up to 4–6 weeks. The test is misleading in the first 15 days; day thirteen is within this period.
What is happening in the ovaries right now?
A follicle is the small sac in the ovary that carries the egg cell. When the ovaries start working, follicles grow; as they grow, oestrogen rises too.
After this the sequence goes like this: ovulation happens, then progesterone rises, and if no pregnancy occurs the period comes.
On which day does ovulation happen?
According to the clinic's doctor, ovulation can return about two weeks after the procedure, sometimes earlier. Day thirteen is right next to this threshold; the exact day varies from woman to woman.
Not having had a period does not mean the ovaries are waiting; pregnancy is possible before the first period. That is why the condom rule continues until your first period.
When will my first period come?
According to our clinic's patient information, the period starts within 40 days on average. There is no rule that every woman will have her period exactly 28 days or one month later; in some women this can exceptionally reach 45 days.
The morning-after pill and medicines that affect hormones can also shift this timetable. The clinic's doctor does not recommend the morning-after pill until the first period.
Do today
- Keep using a condom every time you have sex.
- Keep your calendar ready to note the day your first period starts.
- If you use a medicine containing hormones, tell your doctor.
Don't do today
- Do not calculate your ovulation day and adjust contraception to it.
- Do not trust the result of a pregnancy test taken within the first 15 days.
- Do not start a medicine containing hormones without consulting your doctor.
Special note
If your periods are already irregular
If your periods were irregular before the procedure too, the timetable for the ovaries starting again and the timing of the first period may differ from what is described here. Your doctor will tell you what is expected for you; when you call the clinic, mention your cycle pattern.
When should you call?
Call 112 first (if you are abroad, that country's emergency number)
- Fainting: If you faint, call 112 first; if you are abroad, call the emergency number of the country you are in.
Call the clinic straight away
- Heavy bleeding: Soaking 2–3 pads within one hour. A total of 2–3 pads over the whole day is normal.
- Fever: A temperature of 38 °C or higher, or fever together with weakness.
- Severe pain: Severe abdominal or back pain that does not ease with painkillers.
- Foul-smelling discharge: Unusual, foul-smelling vaginal discharge.
- Large clot: Passing a clot the size of a golf ball.
Call the clinic
- If your breast tenderness lasts more than two weeks, call the clinic.
- If the test is still positive after the third week, or the line is getting darker, let the clinic know.
- Dizziness or shivering: Dizziness, chills and shivering that do not pass.
- Hard abdomen: The abdomen becoming hard, or clear tenderness when touched.
- Burning on urination: Burning or stinging when passing urine.
SoftCare Clinic patients can reach the doctor's assistant or a nurse 24 hours a day; when needed, they contact the doctor. Call whenever you are unsure; what your own doctor tells you always comes first.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell that I have ovulated after an abortion?
According to SoftCare Clinic, ovulation can return about two weeks after an abortion, sometimes earlier; the exact day cannot be known in advance, and the clinic does not describe a sign to watch for at home. Because ovulation happens before the first period, counting days cannot be relied on; a condom is used every time until the first period.
Can a pregnancy test be positive 13 days after an abortion?
It can. According to SoftCare Clinic, the pregnancy hormone (beta hCG) does not drop straight away; a home test can be positive for about 15–20 days and is misleading in the first 15 days. So a positive result on day 13 does not, on its own, show that the pregnancy is continuing. If the test is still positive after three weeks, or the line is getting darker, call the clinic.
When does oestrogen rise after an abortion?
Oestrogen rises when the pregnancy hormone falls and the ovaries start working again, together with the growth of the follicles. This rise happens before the first period; which day it falls on varies from person to person, and no figure is given on this page. If you have a particular condition related to your hormones, your doctor will assess it.
Sources
SoftCare Clinic for your questions
Our patients can reach a nurse and the doctor's assistant 24 hours a day.
This page is for general information; it does not replace an examination or your doctor's advice. Every woman recovers differently. The times and rules your doctor gives you always take priority over those on this page.
Medically reviewed by Op. Dr. Şükrü Sanus, Obstetrician & Gynecologist · Last medical review: