A woman who has a surgical abortion will be watched carefully for a short period of time to make sure that her blood pressure, pulse, and bleeding are within normal limits. She will then be allowed to go home and will have a return visit in 2 to 4 weeks to check for complications. After any abortion, a woman with Rh negative blood should be given an injection of Rh immune globulin, unless the father is also known to have Rh negative blood. She may also be given a prescription for pain medications . Antibiotics may also be prescribed to prevent infection.
Some women experience depression similar to postpartum depression after an abortion.
If a woman has no complications from the abortion, it is likely that she will be able to get pregnant at a later time. A follow-up visit with a healthcare provider should include a pelvic exam to make sure the uterus is shrinking in size. This office visit is also a good time for a woman and her provider to discuss birth control , so she can choose a method that will work well for her. In addition, there are possible complications associated with each type of abortion. Generally, early abortions are much safer than later abortions.