After an abortion, a woman's hormonal system experiences a significant shift, requiring time to readjust. According to the reference material, the hormonal system is "shocked to a certain extent" when the placenta detaches.
Hormonal Fluctuations Explained
The primary impact is the sudden drop in pregnancy hormones like:
- hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin): This hormone is produced by the placenta during pregnancy. After an abortion, hCG levels decline, but it takes time for them to return to pre-pregnancy levels. This is why pregnancy tests can remain positive for several weeks post-abortion.
- Estrogen and Progesterone: These hormones are crucial for maintaining pregnancy. Their levels also drop sharply after an abortion, leading to various physiological changes as the body adjusts.
Timeline for Hormonal Adjustment
The exact timeline for hormonal adjustment varies from woman to woman, but it generally takes several weeks to months for hormones to return to their pre-pregnancy state. During this time, women might experience:
- Irregular periods
- Mood swings
- Breast tenderness
- Other pregnancy-related symptoms that gradually subside.
Pregnancy Test After Abortion
As mentioned in the reference, pregnancy tests will likely remain positive for several weeks after the abortion. This is because hCG, the hormone detected by pregnancy tests, takes time to clear from the body.
