Multi-Level Pregnancy Test Use for Medical Abortion Follow-up after 63 Days’ Gestation: Evidence from Prenatal hCG Data
- Published
- May 26th, 2020
- Type
- Publication
- Topic
- Medication Abortion
- Authors
- Shochet, T., Lerma, K., Blum, J., Winikoff, B., Blumenthal, P.D.
Contraception; May 26, 2020; Vol. 102(3):207-209; doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2020.05.008
Objective: To explore hCG patterns using multi-level urine pregnancy tests (MLPTs) among prenatal clients to evaluate the potential use of these tests for medical abortion follow-up after 63 days’ gestation.
Study design: Prenatal clients with gestations 9–12 weeks were asked to administer an MLPT weekly for three weeks. We evaluated change in hCG range over one- and two-week intervals.
Results: Our analysis included 121 clients. Over one-week intervals, 26.5–43.1% of participants had a drop in hCG range. The proportion with a decline after two-weeks was 42.0–48.3%.
Conclusion: This follow-up strategy would not work in gestations beyond 63 days.