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Teratogenicity

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...

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Weight and Procedural Abortion Complications: A Systematic Review.

Hayley V McMahon¹, Regan A Moss, Naya Pearce

¹Department of Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences, the Center for Reproductive Health Research in the Southeast, and the Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, and the Feminist Women's Health Center, Atlanta, and the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia; the Department of Social, Behavioral, and Population Health Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana; and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Obstetrics and Gynecology

|January 2, 2025

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Higher body weight is not linked to increased procedural abortion complications. Referring patients for hospital-based care due to weight may delay access and negatively impact health outcomes.

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Area of Science:

Medical research
Public health
Reproductive health

Background:

Higher body weight is often cited as a reason for increased procedural abortion complications.
Existing guidelines sometimes recommend hospital-based care for individuals with higher body weight undergoing abortion.

Purpose of the Study:

To systematically review and assess the evidence on the relationship between higher body weight and procedural abortion complications.
To evaluate the safety data for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher undergoing procedural abortions.

Main Methods:

A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Clinicaltrials.gov).
Peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2022 in the United States, including participants with a BMI of 30 or higher, were included.
Six retrospective cohort studies involving 38,960 participants were analyzed for procedural abortion safety outcomes stratified by body weight.

Main Results:

No significant association was found between higher body weight (BMI ≥ 30) and overall procedural abortion complications.
One study indicated a higher complication rate for individuals with a BMI > 40 undergoing second-trimester abortions.
All included studies were of good quality, but they varied in clinical settings, patient demographics, and care protocols.

Conclusions:

Higher body weight is not associated with an increased risk of procedural abortion complications based on current evidence.
Current practices of referring patients with higher body weight for hospital-based care lack recent safety evidence.
Such referrals may impede access to care, potentially leading to delayed abortions and adverse health consequences for individuals with higher body weight.