A Study of Complications following Self-administration with Medical Abortion Pills

Abstract

among 48 women who were admitted with abortion complications and also gave history of self-administration of abortion pills.Results: During the study period, 48 women with history of self-medication with abortion pills were admitted with various abortion complications. There were 60% of women who had consumed abortion pills within approved nine weeks gestation while 19% had consumed after nine weeks and 21% after twelve weeks. Majority (60%) were admitted with incomplete abortion, 4% with missed abortion, 13% with continued live pregnancy, 6.5% with septic abortion and 6.5% with ectopic pregnancy. Anemia was present in 79% of patient. More than one third of the patient had severe anemia and blood transfusion was needed in 52%. Surgical evacuation was required in 71% of patient; medical abortion with repeat doses of mifepristone and misoprostol was done in was done 13% and 6.5% needed laparotomy for ectopic pregnancy. Conclusions:Though medical abortion is considered to be highly effective and safe procedure, unsupervised selfadministration of medical abortion pills was associated with serious maternal morbidities. There should be some policy to restrict over the counter sale of this medicine.

How safe are over the counter abortion pills-differences between its intended and practical usage and its implications - a study conducted in a tertiary care centre in Shillong, Meghalaya, India

“…This is comparable to a study by Giri et al where 79% of women had varying degrees of anaemia following self-administration of medical abortifacients. 8 Post C/S patients constituted 10% of our total study population. According to a study by Potdar J, the incidence of uterine rupture of a prior CS scar during medical abortion in early pregnancy was 3 in 768.…”

Mortality and morbidity associated with illegal use of abortion pill: a prospective study in tertiary care center

“…Similar results were seen in study of Giri et al, Jethani M, et al, Thaker et al where moderate and severe anemia was present in 30% and 12%, 45.75% and 11.7% and 56.7% and13.5% respectively. 9,11,13 In a study of Hausknecht 80,000 patients over 18 months, 13patients needed blood transfusion that is 0.01%, when the drugs were given under medical super vision. 15 In a study by Deshpande S et al, no women required blood transfusion when drugs were given under medical supervision.…”

“…9 Women take the abortion pill at any gestational age and are not aware about possibility of serious life threatening condition like heamorhagic shock, ectopic pregnancy.…”

Self administered medical abortion pills: evaluation of the clinical outcome and complications among women presenting with unsupervised pill intake to a tertiary care hospital in Malwa region of Punjab, India

“…These results were seen to be similar to studies by Mishra et al (78%), Giri et al (83%), Thaker et al (89.1%) and Kumari et al (86.67%). [3][4][5][6] As per MTP Act of India, the safe upper gestational age limit for pill intake is upto seven weeks. The risk of complications associated with all forms of abortion increases with gestational age, rising exponentially after first trimester even if performed under the best circumstances.…”