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Published on: September 10, 2018
Induced abortion: an overview for internists.
David A Grimes1, Mitchell D Creinin
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7570, USA.
Annals of Internal Medicine
|April 21, 2004
Summary
Abortion care is common, with most procedures being safe surgical or medical abortions. Induced abortion does not cause long-term medical or psychiatric issues, nor breast cancer.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Medical Procedures
Background:
- Internists frequently encounter patients with a history of or future need for abortion.
- Approximately 2% of women of reproductive age undergo abortion annually.
- Abortion patients are typically young, white, unmarried, and in early pregnancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of abortion procedures, including medical and surgical methods.
- To discuss common complications, safety rates, and long-term outcomes of abortion.
- To inform healthcare providers about resources for abortion referrals and management.
Main Methods:
- Review of current practices in surgical abortion (suction curettage).
- Description of medical abortion regimens, including FDA-approved and alternative protocols.
- Analysis of abortion safety data, complication rates, and long-term sequelae.
Main Results:
- Surgical abortion is common, often performed under local anesthesia.
- Medical abortion, using mifepristone and misoprostol, is increasingly popular and accessible.
- Abortion has a low case-fatality rate (<1 per 100,000) with manageable complications like infection or hemorrhage.
- No evidence links induced abortion to later medical or psychiatric problems, including breast cancer.
Conclusions:
- Induced abortion is a safe procedure with minimal long-term health consequences.
- Medical abortion offers a viable, accessible alternative to surgical methods.
- Healthcare providers should be aware of abortion resources and management strategies.
- Contraception and emergency contraception are crucial for reducing unintended pregnancies.
Keywords:
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