One of the first signs of pregnancy is a missed period. Your body has stopped your menstrual cycle to help your pregnancy implant and grow.
After an abortion, your body will restart its menstrual cycle. This means you will ovulate in the weeks following an abortion, and you could get pregnant again.
What is Ovulation?
Ovulation refers to the release of an egg from an ovary and generally occurs around 14 days before your period begins. The egg travels down the fallopian tubes toward the uterus. If sperm is in your body at that time, you may become pregnant.
This process is referred to as fertilization. If fertilization happens, the pregnancy embeds itself into the lining of the uterus, and ovulation stops.
After an abortion, your cycle begins over again, and it is possible to get pregnant soon after the procedure, regardless of whether you had a medical abortion (the abortion pill) or surgical abortion.
Can Abortion Affect My Ability to Get Pregnant in The Future?
Abortions do not typically affect ovulation or fertility. However, some potential risks are important to be aware of.
Potential risks of the abortion pill (medical abortion)
There are certain limitations to be aware of before you take the abortion drugs. The FDA approves the use of the drugs through 10 weeks gestation only. The drugs are less effective the farther along you are in your pregnancy.
There is a possibility the drugs may not work, or you may have an incomplete abortion. This means the pregnancy is terminated, but not all of the tissue leaves the body. An incomplete abortion can lead to an infection, which could impact your ability to get pregnant in the future.
Potential risks of a surgical abortion
Surgical procedures are more invasive. An abortion provider uses suction, scraping tools, and forceps, if necessary, to remove the pregnancy.
Risks associated with a surgical abortion include the possibility of uterine perforation (where a hole is poked through your uterus) or scar tissue on the uterine wall. These can lead to problems becoming pregnant in the future.
How Can the Pregnancy Resource Center Assist Me?
If you’re contemplating having an abortion due to an unplanned pregnancy, talk with us first. Although we do not perform or refer for abortion, we offer no-cost pregnancy services and can answer your questions about the abortion process.
You owe it to yourself to be fully informed. To make an appointment, fill out our confidential online Contact Form, call (580) 536-4040, or text (405) 362-6008.
We’re here to answer your questions and help you protect your health. How can we help you today?
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.