How Soon After an Abortion Can You Get Pregnant?
Despite the numerous myths you may hear floating around, it is absolutely possible to become pregnant following an abortion. Yes. You can get pregnant after having an abortion. This is true for both surgical and medical abortions. If you have recently had an abortion and would like to prevent future pregnancies, know that you can still get pregnant immediately following the procedure. Therefore, it’s important to make sure to use protection the next time you have sex.
How an Abortion Impacts Ovulation
Abortions do not typically have any impact on ovulation or fertility. It’s important to bear in mind that prior to an abortion, ovulation will have stopped due to pregnancy. However, after an abortion, your body will restart its menstrual cycle. This means that you can expect to ovulate and have your period in the weeks following an abortion.
There is no standard amount of time that you can expect to ovulate after an abortion. Everyone’s body is different, and some menstrual cycles can last only 21 days while others last as long as 40 days. Assuming that your cycle begins the day after your abortion, you can expect ovulation to occur within the next 2-3 weeks. One study found that on average, ovulation returned approximately 3 weeks following a medical abortion with the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol.
If you are further along in your pregnancy and require a surgical abortion (sometimes called an “in-clinic” abortion), it may take a few weeks longer to ovulate. This is because pregnancy hormones may remain in your body for a few weeks following your procedure and prolong the start of your menstrual cycle.
Menstrual Cycle and Recovery
Your menstrual cycle should resume immediately following an abortion. However, everyone’s body is different, and while some women may have a period again in the next four weeks, it may take others 8-12 weeks for their menstrual cycle to return back to normal. If you have not had a period after 8-12 weeks following an abortion, speak with your doctor and they can provide further advice and guidance.
The following table summarizes the expected timelines for physiological recovery after the procedure:
| Recovery Milestone | Estimated Timeline |
|---|---|
| Return of Ovulation (General) | 2-3 weeks |
| Ovulation (Medical Abortion) | Approximately 3 weeks |
| First Period (Earliest) | Within 4 weeks |
| First Period (Latest normal range) | 8-12 weeks |
Impact on Future Fertility and Pregnancies
If you have had an abortion recently but still want to conceive sometime in the future, know that an abortion will not impact your chances of having a normal pregnancy at another point in your life. Having a safe and legal abortion should not have any negative impact on your fertility prospects for the future. This is backed up by medical research and includes your ability to get pregnant, your ability to maintain a healthy pregnancy to full term, and your ability to give birth.
However, in rare cases, there is a risk of developing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in the event that an infection spreads throughout your womb, uterine tubes, and ovaries in the aftermath of your procedure. If you do develop PID, this can increase your future risk of infertility or having an ectopic pregnancy. To prevent PID from developing after an abortion, make sure to:
- Only receive a medical or surgical abortion from a legal, medical provider
- Never attempt a self-induced abortion
- Be aware of the early signs and symptoms of PID (severe pelvic pain, fever, painful urination, yellow/green discharge, and foul-smelling discharge)
- Call your doctor immediately if you are experiencing any of these symptoms