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Published on: January 12, 2018
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Medication Abortion and Preterm Birth
1Professor and Vice-Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the College of Medicine at the West Virginia University, Charleston, West Virginia. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology with board certification in general Obstetrics and Gynecology and in the sub-specialty of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. He also is also board certified in Addictions Medicine.
Issues in Law & Medicine
|January 2, 2024
Summary
Medication abortion is often considered safe, but evidence on preterm birth (PTB) risk is limited. Some studies suggest medication abortions needing surgical completion may increase PTB rates compared to surgical abortion alone.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Obstetrics
- Medical Interventions
Background:
- Medication abortion is promoted as a safe alternative to surgical abortion.
- There is ongoing debate regarding the association between medication abortion and preterm birth (PTB).
- Existing evidence on medication abortion and PTB is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the available evidence on the relationship between medication abortion and preterm birth.
- To address the controversy surrounding the safety of medication abortion concerning PTB.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on medication abortion and preterm birth.
- Analysis of studies comparing PTB rates between different abortion methods.
Main Results:
- There is a paucity of high-quality evidence directly linking medication abortion to PTB.
- Moderate-quality evidence suggests that medication abortions requiring surgical completion are associated with increased PTB rates compared to surgical abortion alone.
Conclusions:
- The safety of medication abortion concerning PTB requires further investigation.
- Specific types of medication abortion, particularly those needing surgical intervention, may pose a higher risk for preterm birth.
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