Self-management of medical abortion

Overview

Access to safe and legal abortion is an essential part of sexual and reproductive health services. Current challenges to health systems to provide medical abortion services

• Medical abortion can be provided using tablets of mifepristone and misoprostol in combination or misoprostol alone. This is a non-invasive and highly acceptable option to pregnant persons. Surgical abortion is a procedure that can be provided at the primary care level. These recommended abortion methods for the 1st trimester allow for provision of abortion services at the primary care level. Globally, between 2010-2014, an estimated 25% of all pregnancies ended in abortion. When conducted or supported by an appropriately-trained provider, using an appropriate WHO-recommended method, abortions are very safe procedures.