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A Study of Incomplete Abortion Following Medical Method of Abortion (MMA)

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Abstract

Background

Medical method of abortion (MMA) is a safe, efficient, and affordable method of abortion. However, incomplete abortion is a known side effect.

Objective

To study incomplete abortion due to medication abortion and compare to spontaneous incomplete abortion and to study referral practices and prescriptions in cases of incomplete abortion following MMA.

Method

Prospective observational study of 100 women with first trimester incomplete abortion, divided into two groups (spontaneous or following MMA), was administered a questionnaire which included information regarding onset of bleeding, treatment received, use of medications for abortion, its prescription, and administration. Comparison of two groups was done using Fisher exact test (SPSS 21.0 software).

Results

Thirty percent of incomplete abortions were seen following MMA; possible reasons being self-administration or prescription by unregistered practitioners, lack of examination, incorrect dosage and drugs, and lack of follow-up. Complications such as collapse, blood requirement, and fever were significantly higher in these patients compared to spontaneous abortion group.

Conclusion

The side effects of incomplete abortions following MMA can be avoided by the following standard guidelines. Self medication, over- the-counter use, and prescription by unregistered doctors should be discouraged and reported, and need of follow-up should be emphasized.

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Compliance with ethical requirements and Conflict of interest

Anuya A Pawde, Arun Ambadkar, and Anahita R Chauhan declare that they have no conflict of interest. All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional Ethics Committee (Committee for Academic Research Ethics 2011) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008 (5). Informed consent was obtained from all patients before being included in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Seth G S Medical College and KEM Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, 400012, India

    Anuya A. Pawde (Senior Registrar), Arun Ambadkar (Resident) & Anahita R. Chauhan (Professor)

Authors
  1. Anuya A. Pawde
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  2. Arun Ambadkar
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  3. Anahita R. Chauhan
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Correspondence to Anuya A. Pawde.

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Pawde, A.A., Ambadkar, A. & Chauhan, A.R. A Study of Incomplete Abortion Following Medical Method of Abortion (MMA). J Obstet Gynecol India 66, 239–243 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-015-0673-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13224-015-0673-1

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