An incomplete abortion occurs when some of the pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus after an abortion, leading to severe consequences if left untreated. Signs of an incomplete abortion include:
- Fever or chills
- Cramping
- Heavy bleeding
- Abdominal or lower back pain
- Passing large clots through vaginal bleeding
- Foul-smelling discharge from the vagina
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your doctor or go to the emergency room immediately.
What Happens if You Leave an Incomplete Abortion Untreated?
If you don’t treat an incomplete abortion promptly, it can lead to serious physical issues, including death. Complications include uterine rupture, uterine perforation, severe hemorrhage, or sepsis. This is why it’s so important to receive prompt medical treatment, which includes one (or both) of the following:
- Medication to dilate the cervix and allow the pregnancy tissue to pass
- A procedure called dilation and curettage, which uses suction or small medical instruments to dilate the cervix and remove the tissue
Who Can Have an Incomplete Abortion?
Though any woman with an abortion is at risk of developing an incomplete abortion, some women are more likely to experience one. These include the following groups:
- History of having C-sections
- Having a late-term abortion
- Infections
- Bleeding disorders
- Advanced maternal age
- Engaging in risky behaviors
Having access to good medical care and seeing your doctor regularly will help you stay informed about your risk and any steps you can take to manage that risk.
Getting More Information
Talking to your doctor about incomplete abortions is always the best bet, and if you believe you’re having one, go to the emergency room immediately.
If you’d like to talk to someone about incomplete abortions or more information on your pregnancy options, Embrace Wichita is here for you. Embrace can help you tackle the pre-abortion checklist, including no-cost clinical pregnancy testing, limited ultrasound, and options information.
Contact Embrace today to schedule an appointment. You aren’t alone!