How soon after an abortion can I have sex?
When it comes to sex after an abortion, you can resume intercourse when it feels right for you. Most patients feel like they are physically ready to have sex within a week or two of their procedure. After 24 hours, unless otherwise advised by your healthcare provider, you can resume sexual activity.
In addition to how you feel physically, consider how the experience of your abortion may be affecting your emotional state before engaging in sexual activity. Your emotions could range from feeling empowered and relieved that the pregnancy is over, to be sad about losing a pregnancy and/or having shame about getting an abortion—or anything in between. You might find that having sex helps with some of these feelings or you might want to wait until later when you are more comfortable or have healed emotionally from the procedure.
How will my sexual desire be affected after an abortion?
Both before and after an abortion, it’s common to worry about how the procedure will affect your sex drive. You may be concerned that you’ll feel less sexual desire or pleasure, or that you won’t be able to have sex with the same comfort level as before. These are all perfectly normal concerns to have!
It’s important to note that there is no one right way for someone to feel after getting an abortion. Feelings of depression, guilt, shame, anger, low self-esteem, and body image issues can all contribute to reduced sexual desire. It is not uncommon for a decrease in sexual activity to occur during these times of stress. Sexual activity can also slow down after an abortion if you find yourself dealing with a partner who isn’t supportive or who has his own feelings about what happened.
Will my relationship change because of my abortion experience?
Abortions can be a difficult experience, and the emotional state of you and your partner will be different afterwards. For many people, these feelings are temporary, and they quickly transition back to their usual level of intimacy. For other couples, however, abortion can cause a strain on their relationship that lasts longer. Some couples even say that the abortion brought them closer together because they were able to plan how they wanted it to go and support each other through the process. The best way for you to understand how an abortion will affect your relationship is by talking about it with your partner before scheduling it.
What if I repeat my pregnancy?
You might be concerned that if you have sex after an abortion, you will get pregnant again. This is a valid concern, especially if your reason for having the abortion was due to feeling unprepared for pregnancy. However, it’s important to know that an abortion does not affect future fertility or increase your risk of a subsequent miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
Nonetheless, it’s always important to plan any future pregnancies so that they are wanted and healthy for both the mother and fetus. You can use condoms to prevent unwanted pregnancy after recovery from an abortion procedure. This method is effective when used as directed. If you’re using a condom to prevent future pregnancies, make sure you know how to best use them (always add lubricant!) and that they don’t expire before use.
Is it safe to get pregnant right after termination of pregnancy?
If you or your partner have already had an abortion and are considering having another child, talk to your doctor about when it is safe for you to conceive. We recommend that women who have a medication abortion wait at least two weeks before trying to get pregnant again. If you’ve had a surgical abortion, it may be possible to become pregnant in the months immediately following your abortion. However, doctors recommend waiting until you’ve had at least one menstrual cycle after the procedure so that they can be sure everything has healed properly.
It’s also important to start using some form of birth control as soon as possible after an abortion. If you’re not ready to get pregnant right away, but don’t want to use hormonal contraceptives or other barrier methods of birth control, a copper IUD is a great option because it starts working right away and can stay in place for up to ten years.
Have a frank discussion with your partner about how you’re feeling.
Sex after having an abortion may be a sensitive subject, but it’s important to talk openly with your partner about how you’re feeling. Your partner may have their own feelings and insecurities regarding sex after abortion, so try to listen to them without judgment or interruption. If you feel like you need to talk to someone else about your feelings—someone outside of your immediate circle of family and friends—there are many hotlines and services available for those who are having issues coping with the emotional effects of an abortion.
Remember: undergoing a medical abortion is a serious matter for anyone, regardless of the procedure itself. If you need help or have questions, do not hesitate to reach out! You may contact Dr Eve on +27731761148.
