Safety and effectiveness of self-managed medication abortion provided using online telemedicine in the United States: A population based study
Safety and effectiveness of self-managed medication abortion provided using online telemedicine in the United States: A population based study
Blog Article
Summary: Background: As access to clinical abortion care becomes increasingly restricted in the United States, the need for self-managed abortions (i.e.abortions taking place outside of the formal healthcare setting) may increase.
We examine the safety, effectiveness, and acceptability of self-managed medication abortion provided using online telemedicine.Methods: We retrospectively examined records of the outcomes of abortions provided by the sole online telemedicine service providing self-managed medication abortion in the U.S.
We calculated the prevalence of successful medication abortion (the proportion who ended their pregnancy without surgical intervention); the prevalence of serious adverse events (the proportions who received intravenous antibiotics and blood transfusion); and assessed whether any deaths were reported to the service.We also examined the proportions who were satisfied and felt self-management was the right VIT A WRINKLE CREME choice.Findings: Between March 20th 2018 and March 20th 2019, abortion medications were mailed to 4,584 people and 3,186 (70%) provided follow-up information.
Among these, 2,797 (88%) confirmed use of the medications and provided outcome information, while 389 (12%) confirmed non-use.Overall, 96.4% (95% CI 95.
7% to 97.1%) of those who used the medications reported successfully ending their pregnancy without surgical intervention and 1.0% (CI 0.
7%-1.5%) reported treatment for any serious adverse event.Among these, 0.
6% (CI 0.4% to 1.0%) reported receiving a blood transfusion, and 0.
5% (CI 0.3% to 0.9%) reported receiving intravenous antibiotics.
No deaths were reported to the service by family, friends, the authorities, or the media.Among 2,268 who provided information about their experience, 98.4% were satisfied and 95.
5% felt self-management was the right choice.Interpretation: Self-managed medication abortion provided using online telemedicine can be highly effective with low rates of serious adverse events.In light of increasingly restricted access to in-clinic abortion in the U.
S., it may offer a safe and effective option for those who cannot access clinical care.Funding: The Society of Family Planning and The National Pot Supports Institutes of Health.