Journal of South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Register      Login

SEARCH WITHIN CONTENT

FIND ARTICLE

Volume / Issue

Online First

Archive
Volume  16 (2024)
Volume  15 (2023)
Volume  14 (2022)
Volume  13 (2021)
Volume  12 (2020)
Volume  11 (2019)
Volume  10 (2018)
Volume  9 (2017)
Volume  8 (2016)
Volume  7 (2015)
Volume  6 (2014)
Volume  5 (2013)
Volume  4 (2012)
Volume  3 (2011)
Volume  2 (2010)
Volume  1 (2009)
Related articles

VOLUME 15 , ISSUE 2 ( March-April, 2023 ) > List of Articles

Original Article

Self-administration of Abortion Pills and its Maternal Outcome in Tertiary Care Center

Neha Thakur, Ritu Shilp Verma, Tripti Nagaria

Keywords : Complications, First trimester medical termination of pregnancy, MTP law, Second trimester termination of pregnancy, Self-medication, Unsafe abortions

Citation Information : Thakur N, Verma RS, Nagaria T. Self-administration of Abortion Pills and its Maternal Outcome in Tertiary Care Center. J South Asian Feder Obs Gynae 2023; 15 (2):144-148.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10006-2226

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 11-05-2023

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2023; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background: Abortion service as medical healthcare facility is an essential service a woman needs. Despite well-developed medical service centers in our country and the legalization of abortion, the incidence of illegal and unsafe abortion has not come down. This study was carried out to analyze the complications following self-medication of abortion pills and to suggest measures to prevent such practice. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted in 125 women who came with history of (H/o) self-intake of abortion pills and presented at our hospital from January 2020 to December 2020. Result: In this study, majority of participants who took self-abortion pills were between 21 and 25 years (36%) of age, and most of them (61.6%) had completed their higher secondary education. Nearly half of the study participants (49.6%) who presented to Obstetrics and Gynecology OPD or in the emergency department were with a history of 2–3 months of amenorrhea. Incomplete abortion was found in 97 (77.6%) patients. Instrumental evacuation was required in 30 (24%) patients. Twenty-three (18.4%) patients were severely anemic. Transfusion of blood was required in 38 (30.4%) patients. Conclusion: Medical abortion is effective and safe when carried out under medical supervision. Unsupervised use of medical abortion pills is associated with many complications like incomplete abortion, rupture ectopic, and ruptured uterus. So, over-the-counter sale of medical abortion pills should be restricted.

HTML PDF Share
  1. Bearak J, Popinchalk A, Ganatra B, et al. Unintended pregnancy and abortion by income, region, and the legal status of abortion: Estimates from a comprehensive model for 1990–2019. Lancet Glob Health 2020;8(9):e1152–e1161. DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X2030315-6.
  2. Mentula MJ, Niinimaki M, Suhonen S, et al. Immediate adverse events after second trimester medical termination of pregnancy: Results of a nationwide registry study. Human Reprod 2011;26(4):927–932. DOI: 10.1093/humrep/der016.
  3. Kahabuka C, Pembe A, Meglioli A. Provision of harm-reduction services to limit unsafe abortion in Tanzania. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2017;136(2):210–214.
  4. Ochoa MT, Espinoza H, Blandon MM. Exploring abortion stigma among women and their abortion providers in clandestine conditions. Int J Gynecol Obstet 2018;143:831–832.
  5. Srivastava M, Srivastava A, Namrata K. Abortion pills as over-the-counter drugs – A boon or a curse. J Evol Med Dent Sci 2018;77:820–823. DOI:10.14260/JEMDS/2018/187.
  6. Kumari DL, Indhumathi D. Study of outcome of cases of self-medication with mifepristone with or without misoprostol for medical abortion. Inter J Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2020;4(6):236–241. DOI: 10.33545/gynae.2020.v4.i6d.760.
  7. Bhalla S, Goyal LD, Bhalla S, et al. Self administered medical abortion pills: Evaluation of the clinical outcome and complications among women presenting with unsupervised pill intake to a tertiary care hospital in Malwa region of Punjab, India. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol 20187(4):1537. DOI: 10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20181351.
  8. Sensoy N, Dogan N, Sen K, et al. Unwanted pregnancy and traditional self-induced abortion methods known among women aged 15 to 49. JPMA J Pakis Med Assoc 2015;65(5):452–456.
  9. Gupta M, Pandey D, Salhan S. Analysis of self-prescribed abortion pill: An eye opener. Ind J Obstet Gynecol Res 2021;6(2):144–149. DOI: 10.18231/j.ijogr.2019.034.
  10. Anjum D, Mehta S, Grover A, et al. Self-medication for abortion: safety issues. J Obstet Gynecol Ind 2017;67(5):382–383. DOI: 10.1007/s13224-017-1005-4.
  11. Shankaraiah R, Annadani R, Vijayashankar V, et al. Medical termination of pregnancy and subsequent adoption of contraception. Inter J Reprod Contracept Obstetr Gynecol 2013;367–371. DOI: 10.5455/2320-1770.ijrcog20130921.
  12. Meglioli A, Kahabuka C. Key lessons from implementation of the harm reduction services for unwanted pregnancies in Tanzania: potential for elimination of maternal deaths from unsafe abortion. Int J Gynecol Obstet 2015;131. E305.
  13. Sarojini, Ashakiran TR, Bhanu BT, et al. Over-the-counter MTP Pills and Its Impact on Women's Health. J Obstet Gynecol India 2017;67:pp. 37–41. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-016-0916-9.
  14. Nivedita K, Shanthini F. Is it safe to provide abortion pills over the counter? A study on outcome following self-medication with abortion pills. J Clin Diag Res: JCDR. 2015;9(1):QC01.
  15. Thaker RV, Deliwala KJ, Shah PT. Self Medication of Abortion Pill: Women's Health in Jeopardy. NHL Journal of Medical Sciences. 2014;3(1). Corpus ID: 78349653.
  16. Rosing MA, Archbald CD. The knowledge, acceptability, and use of misoprostol for self-induced medical abortion in an urban US population. J Am Med Women Assoc 2000;55(Suppl. 3):183–185.
  17. Banerjee SK, Andersen K. Exploring the pathways of unsafe abortion in Madhya Pradesh, India. Glob Public Health 2012;78:882–896. DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2012.702777.
  18. Gipson JD, Hirz AE, Avila JL. Perceptions and practices of illegal abortion among urban young adults in the Philippines: A qualitative study. Stud Fam Plan 2011;42(4):261–272. DOI: 10.1111/j.1728-4465.2011.00289.x.
  19. Jethani M, Yadav K, Muchhoria S, Sharma S. Monika. Self Medicated Abortion – Care or Crime JMSCR. 2015;3(09):7507–7512. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v3i9.33.
  20. Moodliar S, Bagratee JS, Moodley J. Medical vs. surgical evacuation of firsttrimester spontaneous abortion. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2005;91(1):21–26. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2005.06.009.
  21. Kapp N, Grossman D, Jackson E, et al. A research agenda for moving early medical pregnancy termination over the counter. BJOG 2017;124(11):1646–1652. DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.14646.
  22. Upadhyay UD, Biggs MA, Foster DG. The effect of abortion on having and achieving aspirational one-year plans. BMC Womens Health 2015;15(1):102. DOI: 10.1186/s12905-015-0259-1.
  23. Say L, Chou D, Gemmill A, Tunçalp O, Moller AB. others. 2014. “Global Causes of Maternal Death: A WHO Systematic Analysis.” The Lancet Global Health.;2(6):e323-333. DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(14)70227-X.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.