Journal Study on Prescription Drugs: Medication Abortion Before Confirmed Intrauterine Pregnancy
Research Overview
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 6, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that medication abortion before confirmed intrauterine pregnancy is noninferior to standard, delayed treatment. The research conducted by Dr. Karin Brandell and colleagues at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm involved a multicenter, randomized controlled trial.
Study Design
In this trial, women requesting medication abortion at up to 42 days of gestation with an unconfirmed intrauterine pregnancy were randomly assigned to one of two groups:
- Early-start group (754 participants) received immediate abortion
- Standard-care group (750 participants) had their treatment delayed until pregnancy confirmation
Key Findings
The study found:
- A complete abortion occurred in 95.2% of the early-start group compared to 95.3% in the standard group.
- Ectopic pregnancies were reported in 1.3% of the early-start and 0.8% of the standard-care participants.
- Moreover, serious adverse events occurred in 1.6% of the early-start group against 0.7% in standard care, mostly involving hospitalizations for ectopic pregnancies or incomplete abortions.
Implications
This finding is significant as it supports the safety and efficacy of early medication abortion, providing better options for women seeking abortion services.
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