Misoprostol for Abortion

This method of abortion causes symptoms similar to a Reference miscarriage Opens New Window (such as severe cramping and vaginal bleeding) as tissue and clots pass from the uterus. Symptoms may include:

• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Headache.
• Dizziness.
• Chills or hot flushes (sweating and feeling overly hot).
• Shivering.
• Fatigue.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported that a few women have died from a severe infection (Reference sepsis) after having an abortion using mifepristone and vaginal misoprostol.^{Reference 4} Signs of serious infection include weakness, nausea, and diarrhea with or without belly pain. This rare infection may not cause a fever. Call your doctor or go to the hospital if you have any of these signs of a serious infection after having a medical abortion.

Signs of complications

Call your doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms after an abortion:

• Severe bleeding. Both medical and surgical abortions usually cause bleeding that is different from a normal menstrual period. Severe bleeding can mean:
  • Passing clots that are bigger than a golf ball, lasting 2 or more hours.
  • Soaking more than 2 large pads in an hour, for 2 hours in a row.
  • Bleeding heavily for 12 hours in a row.
• Signs of infection in your whole body, such as headache, muscle aches, dizziness, or a general feeling of illness. Severe infection is possible without fever.
• Severe pain in the belly that is not relieved by pain medicine, rest, or heat
• Hot flushes or a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher that lasts longer than 4 hours
• Vomiting lasting more than 4 to 6 hours
• Sudden belly swelling or rapid heart rate
• Vaginal discharge that has increased in amount or smells bad
• Pain, swelling, or redness in the genital area

Call your doctor for an appointment if you have had any of these symptoms after a recent abortion:

• Bleeding (not spotting) for longer than 2 weeks
• New, unexplained symptoms that may be caused by medicines used in your treatment
• No menstrual period within 6 weeks after the procedure
• Signs and symptoms of Reference depression Opens New Window. Hormonal changes after a pregnancy can cause depression that requires treatment.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

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