Women's Experience of Decision-Making With Medication Abortion

Medical versus surgical methods of early abortion: protocol for a systematic review and environmental scan of patient decision aids

“… 3 Some women favour medical abortion because they perceive it to be more natural, want to avoid surgery or value the privacy of the home environment. 4–7 Other women prefer surgical abortion because of the comfort and finality of the procedure being completed in a single clinic visit, their preference for anaesthesia or their desire not to see the fetus. 5 8 9 …”

How do women seeking abortion choose between surgical and medical abortion? Perspectives from abortion service providers

“…The more subjective factors that also play a role in women's decisions (also found in previous international studies) are: women choose medical abortion because they perceive it to be more natural, less medicalised and less invasive than surgical abortion; women choose the method that gives them the greatest sense of control and privacy; women with greater confidence and trust in their bodies are more likely to choose medical abortion; and women opt for the method that has the least emotional impact. For example, as identified in our study and in previous research, medical abortion is viewed as akin to having a miscarriage enabling women to emotionally distance themselves from the act of having an abortion.…”

“…It seems likely that the same set of circumstances will be interpreted very differently by two different women, depending on, for example, their need for privacy and/or how important they perceive the experience being ‘natural.’ These findings reinforce the need to acknowledge subjective factors in health care decisions, as much as the pragmatic and practical ones. Some of the common principles, similar to those found in previous international studies are: KIs perceived that women select the method that best fits with their other commitments and activities; and availability of support at home is a determining factor. The more subjective factors that also play a role in women's decisions (also found in previous international studies) are: women choose medical abortion because they perceive it to be more natural, less medicalised and less invasive than surgical abortion; women choose the method that gives them the greatest sense of control and privacy; women with greater confidence and trust in their bodies are more likely to choose medical abortion; and women opt for the method that has the least emotional impact.…”

“…International research indicates that women choose a surgical abortion because it is more convenient and faster, to be unaware of the procedure as it is occurring, and because they are sceptical about medications or concerned about the potential side effects of medications . Women who choose to have a medical abortion typically do so because they have a fear of surgical procedures or general anaesthesia, they feel that medical abortion is safer and more natural than surgical abortion, and because it affords them a more private experience . Other reasons women choose medical abortion are because it can be performed at an earlier gestation, it gives women the opportunity to potentially verify their expulsions, and can be undertaken in the home environment …”

“…Women who choose to have a medical abortion typically do so because they have a fear of surgical procedures or general anaesthesia, they feel that medical abortion is safer and more natural than surgical abortion, and because it affords them a more private experience . Other reasons women choose medical abortion are because it can be performed at an earlier gestation, it gives women the opportunity to potentially verify their expulsions, and can be undertaken in the home environment …”