Each woman’s experience with abortion varies. If you have a surgical or medication abortion, your doctor will provide after-care instructions and emergency contacts.
After a medication abortion, you may continue to bleed or spot for several weeks, sometimes with a foul-smelling discharge. It’s important to use reliable birth control until your bleeding stops completely.
How Long After Abortion Can You Have Sex?
While there is no medical reason to avoid oral or penile sex after abortion, your nurse or doctor may recommend you wait until the heavy bleeding stops. Having sexual relations while you are bleeding increases your risk of infection, which can cause problems with the cervix and uterus. You may also have some spotting and cramping after abortion pills. This can last for 2 weeks or more after an abortion pill, and some women don’t bleed at all. You can use pads, tampons or menstrual cups to help manage the bleeding.
If you are concerned about becoming pregnant again, it is best to start using contraception as soon as possible after your abortion. Depending on how long your menstrual cycle is, you could become fertile again the day or week after you take Mifepristone (injection, implant) or Misoprostol (oral contraceptive pill). If you prefer not to wait, you can start using hormonal birth control like the birth control pill or an intrauterine device as soon as your nurse or doctor recommends.
You can also ask your nurse or doctor about long-acting reversible birth control, such as an IUD or Depo Provera. You can usually get this in the clinic as soon as your abortion is complete, and it is a good idea to have it in place before you try for pregnancy again.
Oral Sex
When a woman has an abortion, she might feel a lot of different emotions afterward. Some women may want to move on from the experience quickly, while others might take time and space. Whatever you’re feeling, it’s okay to take the time you need to figure out your sexual life.
Oral sex is when you use your mouth, lips and tongue to stimulate the genitals or anus of another person. It can be done by men or women. This kind of sex is dangerous because it can spread sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Using condoms during oral sex reduces the risk of STIs.
Some doctors recommend waiting before having sex until your bleeding stops. If you have a long menstrual cycle, this could be a few weeks after the abortion pill. If you have a shorter menstrual cycle, it could be sooner.
It’s normal to have vaginal bleeding after a medical abortion, but this is usually lighter than a period. Bleeding can come in waves and can vary in intensity. You might notice small blood clots or a yellow or brown discharge with a sour odor. If you are experiencing heavy bleeding, talk to your doctor about taking pain medication or getting help at a clinic or hospital. You might also need to avoid strenuous activity and exercise until your bleeding has stopped.
Penetrating Sex
For most women, the general guidelines for having sex after an abortion are after two weeks or until the vaginal bleeding has stopped. However, there isn’t any medical consensus on this and many doctors suggest that it is OK to have sex as soon as you feel ready.
If you had a surgical abortion or used abortion pills, it’s important to wait until the heavy bleeding stops before having penetrative sex, because doing so increases the risk of infection in your vulva and anus. You also want to make sure that your cervix has returned to its normal size, which can take time after any procedure that dilates it.
It’s also important to remember that an abortion doesn’t impact ovulation, so you could still get pregnant at any point, especially if you’re not using protection. This is why it’s so important to start a new menstrual cycle as soon as you finish your abortion and use birth control every time you have sexual relations.
In the meantime, if you’re interested in getting a long-acting reversible form of contraception (such as an IUD or implant), your doctor can usually insert one at the same time as your abortion. This will give you protection for up to 12 years. It’s worth discussing your options with your provider, as they will know what options you have and the best kind of contraception for you.
Anal Sex
Anal sex can be uncomfortable or painful for some partners, especially if it is your first time. It is important to take your time and use lots of water-based lube. It is also helpful to talk with your partner about expectations and how it feels for them. It is also very important to use condoms when having anal sex. This will protect you against sexually transmitted infections including HIV and HPV.
Anal sex is when a penis or sex toy is inserted into the anal opening of your partner. This can be very pleasurable, but it is important to use lube and communicate. Anal sex can lead to orgasms, but it is not necessary to have one in order to experience intimacy and pleasure. It is important to remember that you could become pregnant through anal sex if semen is spilled into the vagina or vulva. This is not common, but it is possible and you should always use a condom when having anal sex.
You should wait until your bleeding stops before having sex. Bleeding from a medical abortion usually lasts about two weeks and can range from light to heavy. If you had a surgical abortion, you may not stop bleeding until your doctor tells you it is safe. It is important to know your STI and HIV status and test regularly. If you have HIV, it is recommended that you start taking pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) before having anal sex.
