Elective Surgical Abortion

What happens right after the procedure?

A woman who has a surgical abortion will be watched closely for a short time to make sure that her blood pressure, pulse, and bleeding remain stable. She will then be allowed to go home. In 2 to 4 weeks, she will have a return visit to the health care provider to check for problems.

After any abortion, a woman with Rh-negative blood should be given a shot of Rh immune globulin, unless the father also has Rh-negative blood. The woman may be prescribed a pain medicine. Sometimes, antibiotics are used as well to prevent infection.