Abortion
Day 25 after abortion: what happens in the body on the way to the first period
Day 25 · Recovery after abortion
On day twenty-five, from the outside, not much seems to be happening. Inside, however, a preparation that has been going on for weeks may be nearing its end: the first period.
The timetable of this preparation varies from woman to woman; for some the first period has already come, for others it is still far off. Today we look at what happens in the uterus and the hormones on the way to that day, and at which feelings mean calling the clinic.
Short answer
What happens in my body as the first period approaches after an abortion, and which feelings are usual?
After an abortion, the inner lining of the uterus rebuilds. After ovulation the hormone progesterone rises; if no pregnancy has occurred, menstrual bleeding begins. In the days before the first period there may be sensations similar to those before a period. If there is severe pain that does not ease with painkillers, bleeding that soaks 2–3 pads an hour, foul-smelling discharge or a temperature of 38 °C or above, call the clinic straight away.
Hormones and the first period
The inner lining of the uterus rebuilds after the procedure; the first period comes after this preparation.
Hormone curves in a chart showing the weeks from the procedure to the first period; the part showing the thickening of the uterine lining is highlighted.What is happening in the uterus before the first period?
After the procedure, the layer lining the inner surface of the uterus, the endometrium, rebuilds. The first menstrual bleed shows that this layer has been rebuilt and that the cycle has completed one round.
We do not give a number here for how many days this renewal takes; the time varies from woman to woman.
How do hormones start the first period?
As the pregnancy hormone (hCG) falls, the ovaries get back to work. Follicles grow, oestrogen rises and ovulation takes place. After ovulation, progesterone rises.
If no pregnancy has occurred, this sequence ends with menstrual bleeding. Which step of the sequence you are on cannot be told from the outside; that is why for some women day 25 is the threshold of the period, and for others the middle of the road.
How do you tell premenstrual feelings from warning signs?
In these days you may notice sensations similar to what you felt before your period in the months before the procedure. You know these from your own history.
The situations that mean calling the clinic straight away are different: severe pain that does not respond to painkillers; 2–3 pads filling within one hour; foul-smelling discharge; a temperature of 38 °C or higher. If there is a feeling you are not sure about, you can ask the clinic.
If my period has not come by day 25, is it late?
It is not. According to our clinic's information, the period starts within 40 days on average; not having had a period by day 25 is within this average.
The clinic's doctor also notes that there is no rule that the period must come exactly 28 days or one month later.
Do today
- Keep pads in your bag.
- If your period starts, note the day it started.
- Use a condom every time.
- If a feeling worries you, ask the clinic.
Don't do today
- Do not stop using contraception because your period is approaching.
- Do not conclude you are late by looking at a single day on the calendar.
- Do not dismiss worsening pain as 'just premenstrual'.
Special note
The condom continues until the first period
Under the clinic's rule, after the first week a condom is used every time until your first period. Even if you think your period is near, do not stop using condoms; ovulation returns before the period. After the first period, a regular method of contraception is chosen with your doctor.
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 what you feel is noticeably different from your usual premenstrual days, consult the clinic.
- If pain you put down to your period coming is increasing day by day, 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
What are the signs before the first period after an abortion?
As the first period after an abortion approaches, you may have sensations similar to what you felt before your period in previous cycles; your doctor will tell you personally which of these count as usual. By this time the uterine lining has rebuilt and progesterone has risen after ovulation. If no pregnancy has occurred, the cycle ends with menstrual bleeding.
Is it normal not to have a period 25 days after an abortion?
According to SoftCare Clinic's information, the period starts within 40 days on average after an abortion; there is no rule that it must come exactly 28 days or one month later. So not having had a period by day 25 does not on its own mean a delay. The limit at which you should call the clinic directly is 45 days without a period.
When does the uterine lining renew after an abortion?
The uterine lining (endometrium) rebuilds after an abortion; this page does not give a number for how many days this takes. The first menstrual bleed is the sign that the lining has rebuilt and the hormone cycle has completed one round. If you are curious about your own situation, you can call the clinic and ask your doctor.
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: