Testimonials from Women
You had an abortion recently or some time ago and are now pregnant again?
It’s not uncommon for women to describe feeling very conflicted when they become pregnant after an abortion. Maybe the new pregnancy happened much sooner and more unexpectedly than you thought. Maybe your situation hasn’t changed much and the worries and problems that led to your last abortion are still present. Perhaps the memory of the last abortion is still very fresh, and you don’t want to go through the same process again.
Are you personally affected by this topic? If you’d like, you can provide three pieces of information about your personal situation here. You’ll then receive personalized guidance on your screen within a few seconds!
You’re not alone with all your thoughts.
Here, you can read the stories of three women:
Dagmar, 20*, shares her initial feelings in a message to her counselor:
I’m completely desperate. Since yesterday, I know I’m pregnant again. I can’t stop thinking about it.
It’s my own fault, and it’s the second time within half a year.
At the beginning of the year, I got pregnant because the condom slipped, and now it’s happened again. This time I was on the pill, but I had a stomach bug. I was so sick, I just didn’t think that something could happen (…).
I’m just terribly scared. The first abortion was hell for me.
My boyfriend wants me to keep it this time because he saw how I felt last time. But I don’t feel ready for a child.
I’m afraid of my gynecologist and what they’ll think of me. I just can’t talk to anyone about it (…).
Julia, 32*, writes to the counselors about her situation:
Dear Pro Femina team, I’m pregnant and my boyfriend doesn’t want the child. But I’ve decided to keep it.
He just doesn’t understand that I can’t have another abortion, not even for psychological reasons. For him, it’s just a quick visit to the doctor — he doesn’t get that I would suffer for the rest of my life. I’ve already made the mistake once and let him talk me into it. Even now, I don’t recognize him. He’s crying, saying I’m ruining his life and asking why I’m acting so selfishly. He says I should think about our other children, too.
Our daughter is five and she’s really excited about having a sibling, and so am I. He also brought his son into the relationship; I’m not sure about him, he’s already thirteen.
It’s just exhausting for me. I want to spend this pregnancy with as many positive feelings as possible. (…) I just don’t know what to do anymore to change his mind 😢. I really need your advice.
Agnes, 29*, is struggling with the uncertainty of whether she is pregnant again:
Hello,
I don’t even know where or how to start—my thoughts are racing.
I’ve used the pill for birth control my whole life and often forgot to take it—but nothing ever happened. In January, I decided to stop taking the pill—not because I wanted to get pregnant, but because I didn’t want to take hormones anymore.
And shortly after, I got pregnant! We talked about it, and my boyfriend supported me. Everything was just too much for me. First, I wanted us to have an apartment together, time for just the two of us, and maybe a child in a couple of years, in my early thirties. I had a medical abortion at seven weeks.
Since then, we’ve had sex twice, always with a condom.
According to my calendar, I was supposed to get my period yesterday. But does that even count after an abortion?
So today, out of fear, I took a pregnancy test. And there’s a second line! It’s not as clear as last time. The line is barely visible. Could it still be because of the hormones from the last pregnancy? Or am I pregnant again? Can it happen that fast?
My situation hasn’t changed, and I’d rather not become a mother just yet.
I feel pretty uncomfortable about going back to my doctor (…). Go through all of this again? Besides, some people in my social circle already know… What would they say if I DID have a child?
I know, really, that it’s completely irrelevant and it’s my decision. Still, these thoughts are troubling me. Maybe you have some advice for me.
Positive Pregnancy Test – How Soon Is Pregnancy Possible After an Abortion?
After an abortion, a pregnancy test can still show a positive result for several weeks. This is because the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) doesn’t disappear from the body immediately, but is instead broken down gradually.
- After a medication abortion, hCG can be detectable for about 2–4 weeks.
- After a surgical abortion, hCG usually drops more quickly, typically within 1–3 weeks.
If a pregnancy test is still positive after 4 weeks, it could mean that there is still residual hCG in your body, or that there is actually a new pregnancy. Another possibility is that the abortion was incomplete or did not actually occur.
Theoretically, a new pregnancy is possible immediately after an abortion, as soon as ovulation occurs—even though sometimes the body needs some time before it’s ready for pregnancy again.
If your test continues to be positive, your doctor can do a blood test.
Even if it’s difficult to see a doctor, it’s important to have a medical checkup (especially if your previous abortion was not long ago and you are experiencing additional symptoms or pain along with the positive test) to get clarity.
Pregnant Again – Tips for Your Situation
If it turns out that you really are pregnant again, don’t keep your worries and feelings to yourself!
No pregnancy is the same as the previous one, and you always have the chance to take new paths and look for additional support. Especially if you suffered after your last abortion, now might be the time to regroup and consider other options.
Sometimes, new doors and new paths open up in life—paths you might not have been able to see while you were in a difficult situation. We want to encourage you not to go through this alone! Here you’ll find more sources of support.
