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Updated: May 27, 2026
Auricular Point Acupressure Therapy: A Safe and Effective Treatment for Postsurgical Abortion Recovery
Published on: February 3, 2026
Women's preferences for pain control during first-trimester surgical abortion: a qualitative study
Rebecca H Allen1, Jennifer Fortin, Deborah Bartz
1The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Infants Hospital, Providence, RI 02905, USA. rhallen@wihri.org
Background:
To explore women's preferences for pain control during first-trimester surgical abortion.
Study Design:
Pre- and postoperative semistructured individual interviews were conducted with 40 women divided into eight strata by anesthesia choice, age and prior vaginal delivery status. We identified key themes in the interviews and analyzed baseline characteristics and responses to close-ended questions within and across the strata.
Results:
For most women, pain control options were not the primary concern in choosing a clinic for an abortion. Women who received intravenous (IV) sedation had lower pain scores and were more likely to report that they would recommend that method to a friend than women who received local anesthesia alone. Women described the pain as a cramping, tugging, pulling and scraping sensation. Respondents recommended IV sedation for a woman who was very anxious or could not tolerate pain, even though more nausea and vomiting may occur.
Conclusions:
Most women felt that pain control decisions should be individualized.
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