Surgical induced abortion between 14 and 16 weeks of gestation: Complications

The law of March 2, 2022 authorizes the extension of the time limit for induced abortion from 14 to 16 Weeks of Gestation (WG). Its adoption was discussed at length during the parliamentary debates prior to its promulgation. The aim of this study is to examine the profile of patients undergoing induced abortion between 14 and 16 WG, their management, and the rate of complications.

The study was quantitative, observational, retrospective and multicentric. Patients who underwent induced abortion between 14 and 16 WG in the 8 orthogenic centers concerned by this practice in Pays de la Loire over the period from March 2, 2022 to March 2, 2023 were included.

A total of 123 patients were included 119 patients were analysed. Most women were aged between 20 and 29. A notion of violence was noted in 41 % of patients. The different operative complications concerned <1 % of patients, except for the rate of blood loss over 500 mL (7.6 %), need for transfusion (2.5 %) and expulsion of the foetus before the operative procedure (5.9 %).

Patient characteristics appeared similar to those of patients undergoing induced abortion before 14 WG, except for the history of violence, which appeared higher. Complication rates were comparable to those for induced abortions performed before 14 WG, except for bleeding over 500 mL, transfusions, and preoperative expulsions. Protocols dedicated to the realization of induced abortions between 14 and 16 WG could be proposed to improve their management.