Conditions for choosing between drug-induced and surgical abortions

Abstract

In France, pregnant women with amenorrhoea of no more than 49 days intending to terminate pregnancy can choose between a surgical abortion via vacuum aspiration under local or general anesthesia and a drug method combining Mifepristone orally administered (RU 486 o), with a prostaglandin analogue. This prospective survey was conducted to study the conditions under which women choose their abortion method, and to evaluate the acceptability of each method after the abortion. The data gathered from 488 women were analyzed according to their initial decision, and then according to the method actually used. The majority (62%) chose RU 486. The women's choice was found to be linked to sociodemographic characteristics such as age, education, occupation, geographic origin, and certain attitudes towards pregnancy, as well as to the individual criteria of each method. The women who chose the drug protocol had most often already made their decision before going to the family planning center (68%), having been advised by their doctor (20%). They were slightly less satisfied with the abortion experience than they had expected: 12.4% were unsatisfied in the RU group and 3.6% in the aspiration group. They needed more rest and quiet afterwards (50%) than the other women. They were distinguished by their desire to verify the expulsion (63%). The length of pregnancy is therefore not the only criterion to be considered when recommending one or other of these methods: the women concerned have different requirements and should have several possibilities to choose from.