Abortion
Day 2 after abortion: the three patterns of bleeding
Day 2 · Recovery after abortion
Day two is the day you look at the pad and wonder 'is it right that there is so little?' or 'is it right that there is so much?'. Both questions lead to the same place: there is no single correct pattern of bleeding.
Our clinic's doctor describes bleeding after an abortion in three patterns. Finding yours among them can help you get through today more calmly.
Short answer
What is bleeding like after an abortion, and is mine normal?
Bleeding after an abortion can follow three patterns and is not the same in every woman: bleeding that comes with clots after some pain 3–4 days after the procedure, bleeding that starts straight away, or spotting only. A total of 2–3 full pads a day is normal. Bleeding may not come at all; this is not considered abnormal. If bleeding soaks 2–3 pads an hour, call SoftCare Clinic straight away.
The three patterns of bleeding
The three patterns of bleeding after an abortion side by side: delayed bleeding, 2–3 pads a day, and spotting.
A three-row timeline; each row shows a different course of bleeding over the days.In how many patterns does bleeding appear after an abortion?
- First pattern: there is no bleeding after the procedure; 3–4 days later it comes after some pain, together with small clots.
- Second pattern: bleeding starts after the procedure and reaches a total of 2–3 full pads a day; this is normal.
- Third pattern: there is no bleeding, only spotting.
Why is it different in every woman?
One of the reasons our doctor explains is the cervix: if the cervix is very tight, it closes after the procedure and the bleeding is delayed. This is how the first pattern comes about.
Sometimes bleeding does not come at all; our clinic's doctor does not consider this abnormal either.
What a relative or someone you read about online experienced may not resemble yours. Watching your own pad gives more accurate information than comparing.
How long do bleeding and spotting last?
According to our clinic, there may be spotting for the first 5–10 days; period-like bleeding coming back after a gap of 1–2 days can also be seen. International guidelines state that bleeding and spotting can last up to two weeks.
What should I watch today?
Keep in mind how many pads you change a day and how full they get. A total of 2–3 full pads over a day is normal; if 2–3 pads fill in a single hour, do not wait, call the clinic straight away.
Comparing today's amount with yesterday's tells you more than comparing it with what someone else described. There is no problem with showering; the bath and the pool are restricted for 15 days.
Do today
- Count how many pads you use a day.
- If you see clots, note when you saw them.
- Carry spare pads with you.
Don't do today
- Do not compare your bleeding with other women's.
- Do not go into a pool because the bleeding has eased; the pool is restricted for 15 days.
- Do not start a medicine on your own because you are bleeding.
Special note
If you have no bleeding at all
If your pad has been clean for two days, bleeding may come later, may stay as spotting or may not come at all; all three are usual. If you have pain or any doubt, call the clinic and describe it. We explain how delayed bleeding starts on the day 3 page.
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 bleeding goes beyond 2–3 full pads a day and is not easing or is increasing, call the clinic for advice.
- If you are not sure which pattern your bleeding fits, call the clinic.
- 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 many days does bleeding last after an abortion?
According to SoftCare Clinic, there may be spotting for the first 5–10 days after an abortion, and period-like bleeding can come back after a gap of 1–2 days. According to international guidelines, bleeding and spotting can last up to two weeks. The duration varies from woman to woman.
Is it normal to pass clots after an abortion?
In one pattern of bleeding after an abortion, small clots are seen: there is no bleeding after the procedure, and 3–4 days later, after some pain, the bleeding comes with small clots. The reason is that the cervix is very tight and closes after the procedure. If a clot the size of a golf ball is seen, call SoftCare Clinic straight away.
Is it a problem to have only spotting after an abortion?
No; in some women there is no bleeding after an abortion, only spotting. The SoftCare Clinic doctor counts this as one of the three patterns of bleeding after an abortion; bleeding never coming is not considered abnormal either. That the procedure is complete is checked during the procedure with ultrasound and by hand.
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: