Motivation and satisfaction with early medical vs. surgical abortion in the Netherlands

Abstract

In the Netherlands, most abortions of early pregnancies have been with electric vacuum aspiration (VA). A study was conducted on women’s motivations for choosing surgical (VA) or medical abortion and extent of satisfaction with the method chosen. Information was also collected about the proportion of medical abortions to total abortions in the Netherlands and, for comparison, in some other European countries. Of 501 women with early abortions surveyed in 2008/09, 71% opted for VA. Except for “previous experience”, women had different motivations for preferring one or other method. At the post-abortion check-up, satisfaction with the medical method was lower compared to VA. Nevertheless, 80% of those who chose medical abortion would do so again. Nineteen out of 20 doctors questioned at a meeting on abortion offered surgical and medical abortion. Seven of the 11 who gave an opinion found medical abortion an excellent alternative and four thought having the choice was important. The proportion of medical abortions per clinic ranged from <1% to 33%. The proportion of medical vs. surgical abortions in all the countries looked at is influenced by provider attitudes and service-related factors. The use of medical abortion in the Netherlands might increase over time but is unlikely to rise as high as in some other European countries.