
Improving Access to Medical Abortion, Moscow, Russia
- Date
- November 30th, 2007
In Russia, where abortion is a common means of controlling fertility, it is critical to offer the 39 million women of reproductive age a convenient and accessible alternative to surgical abortion. The currently approved medical abortion regimen consists of 600mg mifepristone followed by 400mcg oral misoprostol for pregnancies up to 42 days LMP. Gynuity held a training with 6 medical providers from Moscow and St. Petersburg who will conduct a study that examines the acceptability and feasibility of a medical abortion regimen of 200mg mifepristone and 400mcg sublingual misoprostol up to 63 days LMP. This study will allow women to choose to take the misoprostol in the comfort and privacy of their homes, rather than in the clinic as currently mandated, potentially increasing the convenience and acceptability of the method. It is anticipated the study, which will enroll 450 women, will encourage the Ministry of Health of Russia to update its national guidelines on medical abortion and improve access to the procedure.