Mifepristone abortion in minors.
Approximately one-third of pregnant teenagers in the U.S. choose abortion. This prospective study evaluated whether medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol is physically and emotionally acceptable in adolescents. Adolescents 14- to 17-years-old, with pregnancies < or =56 days gestation, and seeking abortion services with parental consent from at least one parent were enrolled. Mifepristone (200 mg) was administered, followed 2 days later by 800 microg of misoprostol administered vaginally. Follow-up visit occurred on Day 4-8 to confirm abortion completion. Questionnaires regarding acceptability of the procedure as well as emotional coping were administered at the initial visit, at the follow-up visit, and by phone at 4 weeks postabortion. All 28 adolescents had complete medical abortions without complications or surgical intervention, and five minors did not require misoprostol. At the Day 4-8 follow-up visit, 75% of teens found the procedure acceptable, and that increased to 96% by the 4-week visit. Although 57% reported stress and 43% reported fear initially, by 4 weeks postabortion only 21% of the teens reported stress, and 8% were still experiencing fear. In addition, the minors' satisfaction with their abortion decision increased from 43% to 79% by 4 weeks postabortion. Medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol was highly effective and well tolerated, physically and emotionally, by adolescents in our sample. A larger clinical trial is needed to generalize these findings to other adolescent populations seeking medical abortion services.
Phelps
R H
RH
Department of Family Medicine, Reproductive Health Program, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA. rhphelps@rochester.rr.com
Schaff
E A
EA
Fielding
S L
SL
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000293:Adolescent; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009518:New York; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D015735:Mifepristone