At-home early medical abortions before 12 weeks of pregnancy were just as safe and effective as those performed in a hospital, a small study from Scotland found.
Researchers analyzed five years of data from a single health center on 258 at-home medical abortions and 113 medical abortions done in hospital, all performed between 10 weeks and just under 12 weeks of pregnancy. There was a 97% success rate in completing the abortion in both groups, according to a report in BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health.
Patients in both groups received the same medication regimen: an initial dose of 800 micrograms of misoprostol (administered orally or vaginally), followed by up to three 400-microgram doses at 4-hour intervals if needed. They also took 5 tablets of 30mg dihydrocodeine for pain and 3 tablets of 50mg cyclizine for nausea.
There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in incomplete abortion rates, with 1.6% in the at-home group and 2.6% in the hospital group, or in ongoing pregnancy rates, which were 1.2% versus 0%.
For the hospital group, completion was confirmed by a healthcare professional witnessing the passage of the products of conception. For the home group, it was confirmed using a self-performed urinary pregnancy test two weeks after the procedure.
Although follow-up visits were low in both groups, the at-home group had higher rates than the hospital group, at 7% versus 2%, and also received telephone advice more often, 11% compared with 4%.
Additionally, patients in the at-home group were also more likely to make unscheduled contact with the hospital or abortion clinic (23% vs 9%).
"While patients receive written and verbal information on what to expect, some will also want verbal reassurance from a clinician," said lead author Dr. Jacqueline Quinn from the University of Edinburgh Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health.
Only four serious complications were reported, all in the at-home group. They were one hemorrhage a month after the procedure that the researchers say was unlikely to have been prevented by an in-hospital abortion, and three infections treated with IV antibiotics.
Since 2020, British law has allowed women to take abortion medication at home. In England and Wales, this is limited to pregnancies up to 10 weeks, while Scotland allows early medical abortion at home up to 12 weeks.
"This study demonstrates that policy in England/Wales and other parts of Europe which preclude early medical abortion at home (after) 10 weeks should be changed to allow women more choice," Quinn said.
0 comentários:
Postar um comentário