The abortion pill is really two pills. You take one first, then the other a few days later. It is known as a medical abortion. Mifepristone works by blocking the hormone progesterone. Which is necessary to sustain a pregnancy. The misoprostol makes the uterus contract and push out the pregnancy.
After you have used the abortion pill. Then you need to wait 3-4 weeks before doing a pregnancy test. Some medical professionals suggest waiting as long as 6 weeks. Because levels of a pregnancy hormone (HCG) can still be in the body and potentially give a false positive reading. And if you’re still testing positive after that, or are just worried in any way that the abortion did not work (sometimes it doesn’t), give the provider a call and she’ll probably want to do either a blood test or an ultrasound to confirm for sure whether there is still anything remaining.
How the Abortion Pill Works
Here’s what. Did you have an abortion pill?
- 2-day Day 1st dose (Mifepristone): Oral (in clinic or at home). It interferes with the pregnancy that is currently happening. You might only experience some light bleeding or cramping.
- Day2: Using the Misoprostol Usually 24-48 hours after first medicine. Induces contractions and cramping and bleeding leading to expulsion of the products of conception.
- On days 2–7: This bleeding can be heavy, or crampy. Passing clots is normal.
- END: The most (menstrual) blood! azines schedule. I’d gather it’s most typical by the end of a first week for bleeding and cramping to at least be on its way out enough that you would be able to say — you wouldn’t yet KNOW, because really there hasn’t been anything super clear TO know: even if all you have had to date is just a little tiny “sac,” what did they test from is exactly what there was in the first place something like, well.
When You Test Can Make a Difference in Testing for Pregnancy
Pregnancy tests are made to test for HCG, which your body starts producing when you become pregnant. HCG t(L) regressed in a stepwise manner during medical abortion.
- Testing too early: You may have enough HCG to show a positive on some early urine tests, but not on the test you took.
- The timing: Give it at least three
- Health affirmation: Whether it’s time to confirm that your abortion is complete and/or you need aftercare services at a location other than Ithaca.
When Can You Take A Pregnancy Test After Abortion Pill
1. Recommended Timeframe
Many providers recommend testing 3 to 4 weeks after using the abortion pill. The wait is an onion — metaphor in that you have to peel it back, layer for layer, because that’s about how many days need to pass before your levels of human quarter-regnant hormone are low enough to get a true reading from a pregnancy test. You hear what you want to hear as soon as somebody can hear that I don’t amount to anything.”
2. Type of Test to Use
Performing an At Home Urine Pregnancy Test: Simple and private! Ultra sensitive, capable of detecting a known pregnancy sooner than an already great 5 days. Before a missed period which is between 3-4 weeks for testing.
Clinic blood tests: A little more reliable than those at home. The longer it takes for HCG levels to return to normal, the more quickly you can take a pregnancy test.
3. What Results Mean
Negative result: Typically not a concern; may indicate successful abortion.
Low or steady positive: Perhaps the HCG level is still dropping, Or molar pregnancy (bleeding in early pregnancy/nothing to freak out about/same-old test).
Checkout our guide on Abortion Pill Bleeding. You may also like our article on abortion in medical records.
If the Test Is Still Positive
- May be as a result of: Leftover pregnancy hormones, Incomplete abortion & or Prolonged ongoing pregnancy.
- Next steps: Test again in a few days, or contact your doctor.
- Post-care: Your provider will probably want to give you an ultrasound, blood work. Or in-clinic exam to be sure your abortion is complete.
How to Tell If an Abortion Was Successful
Typical signs of completion:
- Transient bleeding after heavy flow (1–2 week post-flood)
- Cramping that gradually eases
- Passing clots and tissue
Warning signs:
- Heavy or prolonged bleeding
- Severe abdominal pain or fever
- Foul-smelling discharge
If you experience any of these, please call your doctor or clinic:
Follow-Up Care and Emotional Well-Being
Post-post-care Patients can recover for not just their bodies but also emotional:
- Follow-up visits to the clinic or telehealth appointments confirm that the abortion is finished.
- Self-care: Rest, fluids and over-the-counter pain medicine may help.
- Family planning: Talk to your provider about which types of birth control you can use and when it would be safe for you to get pregnant in the future.
FAQs on pregnancy test after abortion
When to Take a Pregnancy Test After Abortion Pill?
A test that is taken too early can be falsely negative; at least 3 weeks is best.
How did I come up positive on a test 3 weeks later?
Residual HCG could be present. If it is still negative, it has not been repeated or talked to your provider.
Wouldn’t I get a more timely result from a blood test?
Blood tests do set the sensitivity at a higher level and you will reasonably have some signs with your blood before that don’t appear in your urine if you are pregnant, as HCG could be detected first on your blood, then in the urine.
What if I don’t want a test?
Some symptoms, like lessened bleeding and cramping, may indicate success, but testing is the most dependable method of confirmation.
Conclusion
To ensure that successful medical abortion has been achieved, but not to diagnose ongoing pregnancy, perform a hormonal assay 3-4 weeks after treatment with mifepristone. It also means that the levels of those hormones have fallen enough to avoid false positives. At-home urine tests are easy, and blood tests at a clinic can provide more precision with quicker results. Post abortion care, instruction in danger signals and assistance with emotional recovery aid the safety of abortion as a procedure.
