Is a medical abortion painful?
Disease description:
My girlfriend is unexpectedly pregnant, and we currently have no plans to have a child. After discussing our options, we feel that a medical abortion might be relatively convenient. However, she is very afraid of pain and keeps worrying that the process of a medical abortion will be very painful. I don't know much about this either, so I'd like to ask the doctor: is a medical abortion actually painful?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhang Lu
Medical abortion refers to terminating a pregnancy with medication. Pain is commonly experienced during the process of medical abortion, though the intensity varies from person to person.
Medical abortion primarily involves using medication to induce uterine contractions to expel the embryonic tissue. These contractions cause pain. During the initial phase of taking the medication, most people experience little or no pain, possibly only mild abdominal discomfort. However, after taking the medication for some time, the uterus contracts more intensely, causing significant pain, similar to severe menstrual cramps. Some individuals may also experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Under normal circumstances, most women can tolerate this pain, although those particularly sensitive to pain may find it distressing. The pain typically lasts less than six hours and gradually subsides after the embryo is expelled.
Currently, there is no particularly effective method for relieving pain during medical abortion. It is recommended to stay as relaxed as possible during the process, as excessive tension may intensify the pain. Resting in a comfortable environment and applying heat to the lower abdomen may help alleviate discomfort to some extent. If the pain becomes excessively severe or lasts unusually long after the abortion, you should promptly inform your doctor to rule out the possibility of an incomplete abortion.
