Someone asked us: What not to do after abortion pills?
After taking abortion pills, avoid inserting anything into your vagina for at least 1-2 weeks, including tampons, menstrual cups, sexual intercourse, or douching. You should also avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, swimming in pools or hot tubs, and taking aspirin (which increases bleeding). At Serenity Choice Health, we provide detailed aftercare instructions to patients throughout Illinois to ensure safe medication abortion recovery.
What to avoid:
No vaginal insertion (1-2 weeks): Avoid tampons, menstrual cups, sex, fingers, or any objects in the vagina to reduce infection risk. Use pads instead of tampons for bleeding.
No swimming or soaking (1-2 weeks): Stay out of pools, hot tubs, baths, lakes, or oceans. Showers are fine. This prevents bacteria from entering the uterus while it’s healing.
No strenuous activity (2-3 days): Avoid heavy lifting, intense workouts, or vigorous exercise until heavy bleeding subsides. Light walking is okay and encouraged.
No aspirin: Aspirin thins blood and increases bleeding. Use ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain instead. Understanding proper pain management helps your recovery.
No alcohol (24-48 hours): Avoid alcohol immediately after taking misoprostol as it can increase nausea and interfere with pain medication effectiveness. Learn more about alcohol after misoprostol.
When to seek help: Contact us immediately if you experience severe pain not relieved by medication, heavy bleeding (soaking 2+ pads per hour for 2+ hours), fever above 100.4°F, or foul-smelling discharge. Serenity Choice Health serves patients from Chicago, Springfield, and throughout Illinois with 24/7 support and follow-up care.
Board-Certified Physician & Senior Medical Correspondent
Dr. James Carter is a board-certified physician and a lead clinician at Serenity Choice Health, where he specializes in reproductive health access and medication abortion protocols. With a career dedicated to providing safe, compassionate, and evidence-based care, Dr. Carter bridges the gap between complex clinical guidelines and patient-centered health communication. In his dual role as a Medical Writer and Researcher, Dr. Carter has become a prominent voice in the reproductive health space. He is a contributor on Quora and various health publications, where he provides clinical insights into the legal landscape of telehealth, Shield Law compliance, and modern medication abortion standards. His writing focuses on empowering patients with the data they need to make informed, private decisions about their health.
