Abortion
Day 6 after abortion: fever, smelly discharge and signs of infection
Day 6 · Recovery after abortion
By day six the time given for cramps is behind you, and attention shifts to another question: infection. This worry is common; infection itself is rare. Our clinic's restrictions on baths, pools and sex also continue in these days.
Knowing the signs in advance makes clear what to look for, instead of worrying at every small change. Our clinic's doctor lists the signs below in three levels: for some you call 112, for others the clinic.
Short answer
How can I tell if I have an infection after an abortion?
After an abortion, call SoftCare Clinic straight away if you have a temperature of 38 °C or higher with weakness, foul-smelling discharge or severe pain that does not ease with painkillers; if you faint, call 112 first. Call the clinic for dizziness, shivering, a hard abdomen or burning when passing urine. Every patient is given a preventive antibiotic; the doctor decides the days and dose.
When to call?
Fever, foul-smelling discharge and severe pain: three signs that mean calling the clinic straight away.
Three warning icons side by side: a thermometer showing 38 °C, a drop representing discharge and an abdomen drawing representing pain.Which signs do you look for if infection is suspected after an abortion?
- If you faint: call 112 first; if you are abroad, the emergency number of the country you are in.
- Call the clinic straight away: a temperature of 38 °C or higher and weakness with the fever, severe pain that does not ease with painkillers, foul-smelling discharge.
- Call the clinic: dizziness, shivering, a hard abdomen, burning when passing urine.
How common is infection after an abortion?
According to the figure given by the UK's Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), infection after an abortion occurs in about 10 in 1,000 women.
So most women get through this period without an infection. At our clinic every patient is given an antibiotic as a precaution; the doctor decides for how many days and at what dose it is taken.
When should I take my temperature?
When you think you have a fever, use a thermometer instead of guessing. Our clinic's threshold is a number: 38 °C or higher.
If you note the reading and the time, you can give clear information when you call the clinic.
If the reading is 38 °C or higher, especially if you also feel weak, do not wait for the morning or the next day; our clinic's patients can reach the doctor's assistant or a nurse day and night.
What should I do if my discharge smells different?
Spotting and bleeding can continue in these days; on their own they do not indicate infection. The distinguishing feature is the smell.
If your discharge smells bad, do not wait for it to pass and do not try washes or products at home; call the clinic straight away. If there is also fever or severe abdominal pain together with the smell, mention this separately on the phone.
Showering is allowed; the bath and the pool are restricted until 15 days have passed.
Do today
- Keep a thermometer at home.
- Note any change in the smell of your discharge.
- Do not miss the times of your antibiotic.
- You can keep showering.
Don't do today
- Do not wait for foul-smelling discharge to pass.
- Do not use an antibiotic left over at home on your own.
- Do not get into a bath or a pool.
- Do not have sex; the one-week period ends tomorrow.
Special note
While taking your antibiotic
Our clinic gives every patient an antibiotic as a precaution. Take it for the number of days and at the dose your doctor set; do not stop halfway when you feel well. If you need to take another medicine, ask the clinic first.
Special note
If you want to get back to sport
Under our clinic's rule, sport can resume after day 5; today is day six, so you can get back to sport. Two-wheelers such as motorcycles and bicycles are not recommended for one week; that period is not over yet. The pool is restricted until 15 days have passed.
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 missed a dose of your antibiotic, ask the clinic what to do.
- If your temperature is hovering near 38 °C and you are not sure, call your doctor.
- 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
Is it normal to have a fever after an abortion?
A temperature of 38 °C or higher after an abortion is not considered an expected sign of recovery. Take your temperature with a thermometer; if it is 38 °C or higher, or the fever comes with weakness, call SoftCare Clinic straight away. The clinic's patients can reach the doctor's assistant or a nurse 24 hours a day; when needed, they contact the doctor.
Why does foul-smelling discharge happen after an abortion?
Foul-smelling discharge after an abortion can be a sign of infection and is among the signs that mean calling SoftCare Clinic straight away. The examining doctor determines the cause and the treatment. Spotting or bleeding continuing, regardless of smell, is a usual part of recovery.
Do you need to take antibiotics after an abortion?
At SoftCare Clinic every patient is given an antibiotic as a precaution after an abortion. The doctor who sees the patient decides for how many days and at what dose it is taken. Do not use another antibiotic left over at home on your own; ask the clinic before taking any medicine other than the one the doctor gave you.
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: