First trimester medical termination of pregnancy: The Nottingham experience

This is a retrospective study of 614 women undergoing first trimester medical termination of pregnancy (TOP) from 1 January to 31 December 2006, at Nottingham Contraception and Sexual Health service. All women were in the gestational age of 6-9 weeks. The results showed that three women had blood loss of more than 500 ml and had to be transfused. All patients requiring blood transfusion were over 8 weeks' gestation. A total of 84 (13.8%) patients returned as planned to the unit for follow-up scan because of uncertainty over completeness of abortion. All patients (1.13%) who needed surgical intervention were more than 8 weeks' gestation. A total of 27 patients (4.3%) required admission overnight, the main indication being lack of support at home. Early medical TOP was successful in over 98% of women and allowed them to avoid the risks of surgical instrumentation and anaesthesia. Early medical abortion is a safe and effective procedure and deserves to be more widely available and utilised.