Medical abortion

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A medical abortion is a type of non-surgical abortion in which an abortifacient is used to induce voluntary miscarriage. Safe and effective abortifacients for use in the first trimester became available in the 1970s.[1] The most widely used medication are mifepristone or methotrexate either alone or in combination with a prostaglandin.[1] Medical abortions accounted for 9.9% of abortions in the United States in 2005, 35% of abortions in England and Wales in 2007, 46% of abortions in France in 2006, 61.8% of abortions in Scotland in 2007, and 64.2% of abortions in Sweden in 2008.[2]

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[edit] Prostaglandin

Prostaglandins, such as misoprostol, are often used in combination with mifepristone or methotrexate. Misoprostol administered vaginally is more effective than when administered orally.[1]

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[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Kulier R, Gülmezoglu AM, Hofmeyr GJ, Cheng LN, Campana A (2004). "Medical methods for first trimester abortion". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2): CD002855. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002855.pub3. PMID 15106180. 
  2. ^ Gamble SB, Strauss LT, Parker WY, Cook DA, Zane SB, Hamdan S; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (November 28, 2008). "Abortion surveillance--United States, 2005". MMWR Surveill Summ 57 (13): 1–32. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/ss/ss5713.pdf. 
    Department of Health (June 19, 2008). "Abortion statistics, England and Wales: 2007". Department of Health (United Kingdom). http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsStatistics/DH_085508. 
    Vilain, Annick (September 2008). "Voluntary terminations of pregnancies in 2006". DREES, Ministry of Health, France. http://www.sante.gouv.fr/drees/etude-resultat/er-pdf/er659.pdf. 
    ISD Scotland (May 27, 2008). "Abortion Statistics, year ending December 2007". Information Services Division (ISD), NHS National Services Scotland. http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5644.html. 
    National Board of Health and Welfare, Sweden (April 29, 2009). "Induced Abortions 2008". National Board of Health and Welfare, Sweden. http://www.socialstyrelsen.se/NR/rdonlyres/93831CA6-90A3-4755-8BCE-CD6EABCD6209/13853/200912510_rev3.pdf. 

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