Frequency and risk factors for repeat abortions after surgical compared with medical termination of pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the frequency and risk factors for repeat abortions after surgical compared with medical termination of pregnancy.


METHODS
Frequency of and risk factors for repeat abortions after medical (performed with mifepristone alone, or with a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol or other prostaglandins) compared with surgical (dilation and curettage, or vacuum aspiration) termination of pregnancy were studied using Finnish national health registries. The cohort consisted of 40,360 women undergoing termination of pregnancy between 2000 and 2005 (19,841 medical and 20,519 surgical abortions) with duration of gestation of 63 days or less. Univariable and multivariable association models were used in connection with various factors associated with repeat abortion. The mean (+/-standard deviation) follow-up times were 3.0 (+/-1.5) and 4.3 (+/-1.9) years, respectively.


RESULTS
Women choosing surgical and medical abortion differed subtly, but significantly in several respects. The total number of repeat terminations was 37.9 per follow-up year per 1,000 after surgical termination of pregnancy and 40.4 after medical termination of pregnancy (P=.01). However, medical termination of pregnancy was not linked to an increased risk of another abortion when compared with surgical methods (hazard ratio [HR] 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.93-1.04). In multivariable analysis, the risk factors for repeat abortion were parity (HR 1.99, 95% CI 1.85-2.14), previous abortion(s) (HR 1.70, 95% CI 1.60-1.82), low socioeconomic status (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.06-1.39), and being unmarried but cohabiting (HR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03-1.25) or single (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.15-1.36). The risk of repeat termination of pregnancy decreased with age, among women living in rural areas, and when intrauterine devices or sterilization were planned for future contraception.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of repeat abortion is associated with various sociodemographic characteristics. The method of abortion used is not a risk factor for repeat termination of pregnancy.


METHODS
II.
Niinimäki
Maarit
M
From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; National Institute for Health and Welfare, Oulu, Finland; National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland; Nordic School of Public Health, Gothenburg, Sweden; Sexual Health and Family Planning Clinic, City of Helsinki Health Centre, Helsinki, Finland; and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Pouta
Anneli
A
Bloigu
Aini
A
Gissler
Mika
M
Hemminki
Elina
E
Suhonen
Satu
S
Heikinheimo
Oskari
O
D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D017533:Marital Status; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000494:pharmacology; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014620:Vacuum Extraction, Obstetrical; D055815:Young Adult
D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D016595:Misoprostol; D015735:Mifepristone