Should I start Birth Control After anAbortion?

After an abortion, birth control may be the last thing on your mind. Many patients tell us that after going through an unintended pregnancy and an abortion, they have no interest in sex at all.

Some even say:

"I am never having sex again."

If this is how you feel, you are not alone.

Why Your Sex Drive May Be Low

An abortion can be physically and emotionally demanding. You may be dealing with:

• Stress

• Pain or cramping

• Bleeding

• Fatigue

• Relationship concerns

• Worries about becoming pregnant again

It is completely normal for your interest in sex to be very low during this time. Many people cannot imagine wanting to be sexually active again anytime soon.

Feelings Change as Recovery Happens

The important thing to remember is that these feelings often change. As your body heals and your stress levels improve, your interest in sex may return. This can happen gradually or sometimes quite suddenly. Many patients are surprised by how quickly life begins to feel normal again. What feels impossible today may feel very different a few weeks from now.

Sex Often Happens Without Much Planning

One reason healthcare providers encourage patients to think about birth control early is that sexual activity often resumes before people have made a plan for pregnancy prevention. In fact, between 2015 and 2019, the Guttmacher Institute measured that 44-48% of pregnancies were unplanned (that’s almost half of pregnancies!).

Many people do not decide ahead of time that they are ready to have sex again. Instead, it may happen naturally during a moment of connection with a partner. By the time that moment arrives, it can be difficult to stop and think about birth control options. Having a plan in placeahead of time can help prevent another unintended pregnancy and having to possibly go through another abortion experience.

Fertility Returns Very Quickly

Many people are surprised to learn how quickly fertility returns after an abortion. Once you are no longer pregnant, your body begins preparing for the next menstrual cycle. Ovulation (your body sending an egg into your uterus to get pregnant) can occur as early as 8–10 days after an abortion, and pregnancy can occur before the first period. This means it is possible to become pregnant again before your next period arrives. At CWC, we’ve seen patients return for follow-up visits because they have not gotten their next period but this is because they are already pregnant again.

Birth Control Gives You More Control

Choosing birth control does not mean you must become sexually active right away. It simply means you are prepared if and when you decide to have sex again.

There are many birth control options available, including:

• Birth control pills

• Birth control patches

• Vaginal rings

• Injections

• Implants

• Intrauterine devices (IUDs)

During your abortion or miscarriage visit at CWC, our team can help you choose an option that fits your goals, lifestyle, and health needs. Depending on your choice(s), we will explain how long to wait on the new method, before starting to have condom-protected sex.

The Bottom Line

Right now, you may feel certain that sex is the last thing you want. That feeling is common and completely understandable after an abortion.

However, as your body and mind recover, those feelings often change. Sexual activity may resume before you have had time to make a plan.

Because fertility can return very quickly after an abortion, it is important to think about birth control before you need it.

The best time to make a birth control plan is during your abortion journey—not after you have already become at risk for another unintended pregnancy.

Whatever your choice for birth control is, we respect it. The most important thing is to LIKE our birth control. This is the only method we use consistently and it is therefore the only method that will work. If you’d prefer not to get a prescription this is ok as well. We can provide you with options for your ongoing consideration.