Self-medication of abortion pills and its complications: an observational study

Abstract

Background: Medical termination of pregnancy has been legalized in India since 1971. Medical abortion pill is well effective in early weeks of pregnancy. It is safe only when it is used under medical supervision. This study was carried out to analyse the complications following self-medication of abortion pills and to suggest measures to prevent such practice.Methods: This was a retrospective observational study conducted at our hospital from March 2017 to July 2017.Results: In present study 30 (75%) patients were in age group of 20-30 years. Illiterate patients were 22 (55%). Half of the patients, 20 (50%) were having three or more than three children. Majority of women 30 (75%) had consumed the abortion pills 1-10 days before coming to the hospital and 14 (35%) of patients had come with complain of excessive bleeding per vagina. Incomplete abortion was present in 32 (80%) of patients. Instrumental evacuation was required in 28 (87.5%) patients. Laparotomy for ruptured ectopic and rupture uterus was performed in 1 (2.5%) of each patient. 6 (15%) patients were severely anaemic. Transfusion of blood was required in 9 (22.5%) of patients.Conclusions: Medical abortion is effective and safe when carried out under medical supervision. Unsupervised use of medical abortion pills was associated with many complications like incomplete abortion, rupture ectopic and ruptured uterus. So, over the counter sale of medical abortion pill should be restricted.

Analysis of Ectopic Pregnancy at Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital

“…The overall risk of developing ectopic pregnancy by over the counter abortificient is as high up to 1.9% to 6.5%. 24,25 In this study, another risk factor, previous ectopic pregnancy was 4.5% which is similar to studies by Ansa et al (4.4%), 26 Hussam et al (4.7%), 27 Shraddha et al (3.2%) 21 , Anita et al (5.4%) 13 and Rajendra et al (5.7%). 17 This is most likely due to tubal factors that are usually bilateral.…”

Ectopic pregnancy and unsupervised abortion pills: the hidden truth

“…In the present study maximum cases 21 (77%) were married but were not prepared for a child and were open to resorts like over the counter medical abortifacients for easy solution. It was comparable to other studies conducted by Thaker et al, Agarwal et al and Munshi et al (2018). This shows that abortion pills rather than being used for indicated indications that are given under MTP act is being used as a substitute for contraception by the age group of high fertility and reproductive potential.…”

“…Abortion is a willful termination of pregnancy beyond period of viability. 1 Medical abortion is defined by World health organization as "Usage of pharmacological drugs to terminate pregnancy. 2 World health organization defines unsafe abortion as a procedure for terminating an unwanted pregnancy either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in environment lacking minimal medical standards or both.…”

Demography, clinical profile and outcomes of self-prescribed abortion pills among women, experience from a tertiary care teaching hospital in central India

“…Munshi et al reported that majority of women 30 (75%) had consumed the abortion pills 1-10 days before coming to the hospital. 13 In present study, it was found that 29% of participants herself brought the medicines from chemists, 36.7% of patients husbands brought medicines and 34.3% of patients' other relatives brought medicines. Thakur et al reported that source of information regarding pills was Husband (28.57%) in most of the cases, followed by chemist, friend or relatives (14% each).…”