Can I still have pregnancy symptoms after taking Misoprostol?

Question

Hello doctor,

I took three Misoprostol pills vaginally and one orally to terminate a 65-day pregnancy. About three hours later, I started cramping and bleeding, with blood mixed with clots. Nine hours later, the bleeding and clots stopped, but then a white discharge with a tablet-like texture started coming out in huge amounts for about four hours before gradually stopping.

The next day, I woke up with severe diarrhea that lasted the whole day. A few days later, some of my pregnancy symptoms started going away, but not all of them. Three months later, my uterus is still expanding, my lower abdomen feels firm, I have a positive pregnancy test, I feel fetal-like movements, and my breasts are sometimes tender.

What could this mean?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Here is a breakdown of your symptoms:

Initial bleeding and cramping:

After using Misoprostol (a medicine to induce abortion) (three vaginally, one orally), cramping and bleeding with clots is expected; this typically indicates the beginning of pregnancy tissue being expelled.
However, the bleeding stopping quickly, especially within hours, can sometimes mean the process was not fully completed.

White discharge with "tablet-like texture":

This is likely undissolved or partially expelled Misoprostol. If the tablets were not fully absorbed, the uterus may not have received enough medication to complete the abortion.

Persistent pregnancy symptoms, a growing abdomen, and a positive pregnancy test three months later:

This strongly suggests the pregnancy may have continued, or there may be retained pregnancy tissue, possibly indicating a missed or molar pregnancy.
Feeling "fetal-like movements" and tenderness with a firm lower abdomen raises concern for an ongoing pregnancy or uterine enlargement caused by hormone levels.

What this could mean:

Ongoing viable pregnancy (if the fetus was not expelled).
Missed abortion (fetal demise but tissue not expelled).
Molar pregnancy (rare, abnormal growth of placental tissue that can mimic pregnancy and cause persistent symptoms).
Retained products of conception (RPOC), tissue left in the uterus can keep hormone levels high, causing bleeding and complications.

What you urgently need:

Pelvic ultrasound: to check for a fetus or retained tissue.
Serum beta-hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) test: a blood test to check pregnancy hormone levels.
Gynecologist consultation: to evaluate if further treatment is needed (for example, surgical evacuation like dilation and curettage).

Do not wait any longer.

A positive test and physical symptoms three months after Misoprostol are not normal. Whether or not you want to continue a pregnancy, you need an urgent medical evaluation to rule out serious complications.

I hope this helps.

Kindly revert so I can assist you further.