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Written By Anita Mutti, MD and Lori Atkinson, MD Patients using mifepristone and misoprostol or misoprostol-alone for management of early pregnancy loss (EPL) or medication abortion (MAB) are expected to have a bleeding phase.1 While these treatments are very safe and effective, a common concern includes excessive bleeding. It is imperative to counsel your patients…
Written by Lily Van Tongeren, MD and Maya Bass, MD MA FAAFP During options counseling and abortion care, clinicians and support staff are often asked challenging questions about the abortion process. These inquiries can range from scientific to deeply spiritual in nature. Questions such as “Is there a heartbeat?” and “Does the baby feel pain?”…
Written by Divya Bhatia, MD Pain perception during procedures for abortion or management of early pregnancy loss is shaped by multiple physical and psychosocial factors and can vary substantially from person to person. Accordingly, it is best managed using a multi-modal approach.1 Pharmacological methods include oral pain medication, paracervical block, and sedation with anesthesia. Premedication…
Written by Jasmine Chan, M.D. and Navjot Narula, MD As restrictive laws increasingly limit patients’ access to abortion care, clinicians must maximize their support for patients seeking abortions. Even if your organization does not provide abortions, there are still many ways you can support patients seeking abortion care. These recommendations may fall in a legally…
Written by Judy Lipshutz, MSW, RN Values Clarification (VC) is a process of self-reflection that encourages honest and respectful conversations about how our values impact the care we provide. We all have values, opinions, biases, and identities; and we come from different generations, cultures, races, and religions. Developing self-awareness about how our values impact our…
Written by Silpa Srinivasulu, MPH After the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health decision overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, nearly half of US states banned or severely restricted access to abortion care. To date, 12 states ban abortion in nearly all circumstances and six restrict abortion at 12 weeks of pregnancy or less. While…
Written by C. Peony Khoo, MD Early pregnancy loss (EPL) – also called miscarriage or spontaneous abortion – is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before 13 weeks’ gestation. EPL is common, occurring in up to 15% of clinically recognized pregnancies, and nearly one in four people capable of pregnancy will experience EPL in their…
Written by Leila Jade Levi Leila Jade Levi is a Senior Counsel for Reproductive Rights and Health at the National Women’s Law Center. This article is for educational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship and shall not be construed as legal advice. Even before the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to…
This Insight is an update to a previous Contraceptive Pearl article published in May 2021. After an abortion, patients may want to start or change contraception. Depending on a patient’s medical eligibility, the following contraceptive methods are safe and effective post-abortion: Estrogen/progestin pill, patch, ring Progestin-only pill, injection, implant, IUD Copper IUD Barrier methods Sterilization…
Written by Rory Tito, MPH Early pregnancy loss (EPL), also known as miscarriage or spontaneous abortion, is the loss of a pregnancy in the first trimester (12 6/7 weeks) of pregnancy. EPL happens in 10% of clinically recognized pregnancies, and 1 in 4 people with the ability to get pregnant will experience EPL in their…
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