Abortion
Day 28 after abortion: if your period still has not come
Day 28 · Recovery after abortion
Day twenty-eight stands like a threshold in many women's minds, because the period is expected one month later. If your period has not come today, feeling worried is an understandable reaction.
The first cycle after an abortion, however, does not have to follow this calculation. This page, the last day of the series, explains with figures within which limits the wait counts as usual.
Short answer
I have not had a period 28 days after an abortion; is this normal?
There is no rule that the period will come exactly 28 days or 1 month after an abortion. According to SoftCare Clinic's information, the period starts within 40 days on average; in some women the cycle can stretch to 45 days. If the period has not come even though 45 days have passed since the procedure, call the clinic directly. The condom continues to be used every time until the first period comes.
Hormones and the first period
The first period is not tied to day 28; the average the clinic gives is 40 days.
A timeline from the procedure to the first period with hormone curves; the first period is highlighted as a range extending beyond day 28.Does the period have to come on day 28 after an abortion?
No. Our clinic's doctor states this clearly: there is no rule that every woman will have her period exactly 28 days or one month after the procedure. The average the clinic gives is not 28 but 40 days.
When does the period come at the latest?
- According to our clinic's information, it starts within 40 days on average.
- In some women, exceptionally, the cycle can stretch to 45 days.
- The morning-after pill or medicines affecting hormones taken in this period can change the cycle.
- If the period still has not come when 45 days are up, you call the clinic instead of waiting.
What will I see if I do a pregnancy test on day 28?
A home test can still be positive in these days: the pregnancy hormone does not drop straight away, and the test can stay positive for up to 4–6 weeks. The clinic's rule is clear, though: a test that is still positive after three weeks, or whose line is getting darker, is reported to the clinic. Day 28 is past this period.
On the other hand, a new pregnancy before the first period is also possible. You cannot tell these two possibilities apart at home; your doctor makes the assessment.
When should I call the clinic if my period does not come?
The limit is day 45: if you have not had a period even though 45 days have passed since the procedure, you call the clinic directly. Until then, if you have no other complaint, waiting is usual.
If you have a doubt, you do not need to wait until day 45 either; you can call the clinic and ask for an assessment, and you do not pay extra for this.
Do today
- Count how many days have passed since your procedure date.
- When your period starts, write down the date.
- If you did a test at home, report the result to the clinic.
- Use a condom every time until your first period comes.
Don't do today
- Do not see day 28 as a deadline.
- Do not interpret a positive home test on your own.
- Do not use medicine to bring on your period without asking your doctor.
- Do not stop using condoms because your period is late.
Special note
If day 45 has passed
If you have not had a period even though 45 days have passed since the procedure, do not wait any longer; call the clinic directly. If the doctor considers it necessary, an assessment is made with an examination, ultrasound and tests; if you cannot come, a video consultation can be requested.
Special note
Contraception continues as the guide ends
The day-by-day guide ends with day 28, but the condom rule continues every time until your first period. After your period, choose a regular method of contraception with your doctor. For your questions, you can reach the clinic's medical team 24 hours a day.
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 you have not had a period even though 45 days have passed since the procedure, call the clinic.
- If your home pregnancy test is still positive or its line is getting darker, report it to 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 can the period be late after an abortion?
After an abortion the period is not expected on a specific day; there is no exact 28-day or 1-month rule. According to SoftCare Clinic, the period starts within 40 days on average, and in exceptional cases the cycle can stretch to 45 days. The morning-after pill or medicines affecting hormones taken in this period can also change the cycle.
Can a pregnancy test be positive 1 month after an abortion?
It can. Because the pregnancy hormone does not drop straight away, a home test can stay positive for up to 4–6 weeks after an abortion. Under SoftCare Clinic's rule, a test that is still positive after 3 weeks, or whose line is getting darker, is reported to the clinic. Because getting pregnant again before the first period is also possible, the doctor interprets the result.
What is done if there is no period 45 days after an abortion?
Under SoftCare Clinic's rule, if the period has not come even though 45 days have passed since the procedure, call the clinic directly. In some women the cycle can, exceptionally, stretch to 45 days; with a longer delay you do not wait. If the doctor considers it necessary, an assessment is made with an examination, ultrasound and tests.
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: