Aftercare
bpas has a Post Treatment Support Line: 0800 247 1122
You can call this number 24 hours a day if you are worried. If your mobile phone blocks this type of call you may call the number of the clinic you attended. You will have been given the number after your treatment.
If you are calling from Northern Ireland, please call +44 800 247 1122
If you are experiencing any difficulties with this number, or are calling from Eire or other European countries please dial +44 121 450 7718
(8am to 9pm Monday - Friday 8.30am to 6pm on Saturday, 9.30am to 2.30pm on Sunday)
Below we give you information about immediate post-operative care and some information about other issues surrounding your abortion.
After an abortion at a bpas clinic, the staff will check there is no abnormal bleeding and discomfort and will talk you through any specific aftercare information you need to know. They will also give you written information to take home.
If you have had an abortion carried out recently and are experiencing any symptoms that you are worried about, you should see a doctor as soon as you can. Unusual symptoms to look out for include a high temperature, continuous and heavy bleeding which lasts longer than a week or soaks three or more pads in an hour while resting. Other symptoms might include a general feeling of being unwell, lasting pain, abdominal tenderness or abnormal vaginal discharge.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should phone the clinic or the Post Treatment Support Line immediately as you may have an infection or other complication. Alternatively you should go to A&E or see your GP.
For more information please view the bpas aftercare leaflet.
This page details how you should care for yourself after an abortion. Please read your treatment leaflets for specific information about what to expect after your abortion. Below there are details of symptoms that are unusual. If the information in the leaflets you have been given does not answer your concerns, please contact the clinic you attended or call the Post Treatment Support Line.
What will happen after I leave the treatment unit?
After you have left the treatment unit you can go home and rest.
You should use sanitary towels rather than tampons until you stop bleeding, to limit the risk of infection following an abortion.
You will be able to bath and shower as normal, but if you have had a general anaesthetic, you will need to take care and make sure someone is around who can keep an eye on you.
Any physical effects you feel will depend on what type of abortion you have had. It is normal to experience bleeding for 14 days, longer if you have had a medical abortion – some women pass clots but there is no need to worry if the bleeding is no worse than a heavy period. It is also common to experience some spotting until your next period.
If you experience continuous and heavy bleeding (or SOAK three or more pads in an hour while resting) contact the clinic, Post Treatment Support Line or go to A&E urgently.
You can use normal painkillers to relieve any period-like cramps.
If you experienced symptoms of pregnancy (such as nausea, breast tenderness, etc) before your procedure it might take a few days for those to disappear. Breast tenderness is usually the last pregnancy symptom to go.
Additional information can be found in your treatment leaflet.
You must take the full course of antibiotics you have been given as these tablets help to prevent an infection from occurring or spreading.
How might I feel after my treatment?
Every woman is different. Many women feel relieved, but some women experience feelings such as sadness or guilt. It is a good idea to have someone with you afterwards because you might want to talk to someone or have some support. Women experience different feelings and cope in different ways.
Can I talk to someone about my feelings?
Yes. It is perfectly normal to have all sorts of feelings after an abortion and you can discuss your feelings with a trained counsellor at a bpas clinic by calling 08457 30 40 30 to make an appointment.
Do I need to take time off work?
Most women feel fit and able to return to work within a day or two, although this will vary depending on what type of abortion you have had. Some women like to take a couple of days off work, others prefer not to. It is advisable to rest until you feel able to return to your normal routine.
Do I need a post treatment check-up?
This is not normally necessary after most abortion methods, but if you have any concerns or problems at all please call the clinic you attended for treatment.
If you have had an early medical abortion, a check-up is routine and recommended around three weeks after your treatment, but please contact us before that if you are concerned.
What about air travel after my abortion?
If you intend to take a long haul flight soon after your treatment, it is important that you discuss this with the nurse or doctor, as there might be a slightly increased risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) after certain types of treatment. Please phone the clinic or the Post Treatment Support Line if you are concerned.
When can I go swimming again?
Although there is little evidence that the risk of infection is increased, you may want to avoid swimming for two weeks after your treatment.
When can I have sex again?
It is advisable to wait for two weeks after the abortion to reduce the risk of infection. After that, you can have sex again as soon as you feel ready, but it is best to use condoms to avoid any risk of infection. You will also need to use reliable contraception to avoid becoming pregnant as fertility returns almost immediately after the abortion.
Remember that if your Chlamydia test was positive, you should not have sex until you and your partner have been assessed and treated.
What about ongoing contraception?
Some methods of contraception can be started immediately after an abortion. Please check with a nurse or doctor at the clinic. Alternatively you can get advice from your local family planning clinic or GP.
Please remember that fertility returns almost immediately after the abortion. Condoms can be used any time following an abortion to reduce the risk of pregnancy or infection.
When can I expect my next period?
This can vary from three weeks to up to nine weeks after the abortion. If you have not had a period four weeks after your treatment, you should do a pregnancy test and ring the clinic or Post Treatment Support Line if it is positive.
Please note that any bleeding immediately after the abortion is not a period.
Are there any risks I should know about?
As with all clinical procedures, there is a small risk of complications. See your treatment leaflets for more details.
There is a risk of infection after an abortion, but this can be treated with antibiotics. There is a list of symptoms to look out for below.
What if the womb is not completely emptied?
Very occasionally some of the tissue may remain in the uterus after your abortion. This is known as retained products of conception and happens in fewer than 5% of cases. However this may cause pain, prolonged bleeding or infection. If you experience any of these symptoms you should call the treatment unit where you had your abortion or the Post Treatment Support Line.
If you have retained products, you will need surgery, possibly under general anaesthetic to remove the tissue. You will also be given a further course of antibiotics to complete.
What is a continuing pregnancy?
This is where the pregnancy continues despite an abortion procedure having been carried out correctly. It is rare, but if you were to experience pregnancy symptoms such as nausea or ongoing breast tenderness, you should phone the clinic or Post Treatment Support Line or see a doctor as soon as possible.
Pregnancy testing
Pregnancy test results can remain positive for a number of weeks after treatment. If you still have a positive pregnancy test three to four weeks after your treatment, please ring the clinic or Post Treatment Support Line for advice.
Ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is where the embryo implants itself in a fallopian tube instead of the uterus. In early pregnancy (below eight weeks gestation) it is not always possible for the treatment unit to detect whether your pregnancy is ectopic. If there is an ectopic pregnancy, it will not be removed during the treatment.
It is important that you look out for the following symptoms of ectopic pregnancy:
Continuing symptoms of pregnancy
Pain, especially if on one side and severe
Pain under the ribs or in the shoulders
Fainting or feeling light-headed.
This is a dangerous condition and requires urgent medical attention.
Will an abortion affect my future fertility?
Abortions that are carried out safely and professionally, and with no subsequent complications will not affect your chances of getting pregnant again in the future. There is a small increase in your chances of having a miscarriage or pre-term delivery in the future.
Fertility can return to normal almost immediately after the abortion
What unusual symptoms should I look out for?
If you experience any of the following symptoms:
Lasting pain
Offensive vaginal discharge (discoloured/smelly)
Abdominal tenderness
A high temperature
A general feeling of being unwell
Continuous and heavy bleeding to SOAK three or more pads in an hour while resting
Continuous or heavy bleeding which lasts longer than a week
You should phone the clinic or the Post Treatment Support Line immediately as you may have an infection or other complication.
Alternatively you should go to A&E or see your GP urgently.
What if I have any other questions?
If this page and your treatment leaflets do not answer all your questions, please call the clinic or the Post Treatment Support Line.
Other issues surrounding your abortion
Many women find it useful to have someone with them on the day. This person should be someone you trust such as a partner or close friend. Women all experience different feelings after an abortion and will cope in different ways. Many women take time off work, or others feel able to go straight back the next day – both responses are normal.
You may feel upset or disorientated for a while afterwards as it takes time to adjust emotionally and physically. You may feel a range of feelings such as relief, shock or sadness. A woman's circumstances can effect how she feels, and hormones and anaesthetics can also cause you to feel different to usual. These feelings are normal, and men can be affected too. You can discuss your feelings with a trained counsellor at a bpas clinic by calling 08457 30 40 30 to make an appointment.
Remember, you call the bpas Post Treatment Support Line: 0800 247 1122 24 hours a day, although it may not be possible to access this number from all mobile phones. If you are worried but cannot get through to bpas on the Post Treatment Support Line please call the clinic you attended.
