Ten years on: a review of medical terminations of pregnancy performed in a sexual health clinic

Abstract

The initial provision of MToP through CSHS was anticipated to be a short-term arrangement; however, 10 years on, this service continues with strong community demand. Provision of MToP services through primary healthcare settings can help improve access for women living outside of major metropolitan areas. If moves to decriminalise abortion in Queensland are successful, there is potential for even greater access.

Rapid uptake of early medical abortions in the Northern Territory: A family planning‐based model

“…The proportion of Aboriginal women accessing FPNT’s EMA service (11%) was approximately the same as the proportion of Aboriginal women resident in the Greater Darwin area (9%) and similar to that reported in a review of EMAs at the Cairns Sexual Health Service 13 . The proportion of women whose usual residence was outside of the Greater Darwin area (ie in Remote Australia or Very Remote Australia) was 15%.…”

“…The proportion of clients with ongoing pregnancy and requiring surgical uterine evacuation were lower than in other reported series in Australia; 13,15,16 however, none of these series reported on the number of clients actively managed with additional doses of miso- We found that presenting for an EMA also provided the opportunity for staff at FPNT to discuss contraception with women and importantly, more than 85% of those seen again were subsequently using more effective contraception after EMA than they were prior to attending the service. The number of long-acting reversible contraceptives may be an underestimate as chart review was performed at four weeks post-EMA and only those inserted by that time were counted.…”

“…The proportion of clients with ongoing pregnancy and requiring surgical uterine evacuation were lower than in other reported series in Australia; 13,15,16 however, none of these series reported on the number of clients actively managed with additional doses of misoprostol. The active management of retained products of conception with misoprostol may have contributed to the lower requirement for surgical intervention.…”

“…This proportion is similar to a recent series of tele-abortions 15 and similar to the 78% follow-up of clients living in regional or remote areas reported in a series of in-person medical abortions in Australia 16 and higher than the reported follow-up of the Cairns service. 13 The proportion of women living in Very Remote Australia who had full follow-up was only 53%, highlighting the potential need for these women to return home before scheduled follow-up.…”

Medical abortion: it is time to lift restrictions

“…The Cairns Sexual Health Service performs over 400 medical abortions each year and registered nurses carry out the initial evaluation and counselling, along with the follow-up. 4 Prescribing of the MS 2-Step (mifepristone-misoprostol) medication and the consent process are currently done by medical practitioners, although it is expected that nurses will be providing the latter by the end of 2019. Nurses (as opposed to nurse practitioners) in Australia cannot prescribe under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, but can perform all the other work associated with non-complicated medical abortions.…”