Reaching Women Where They Are: Eliminating the Initial In-Person Medical Abortion Visit

Contraception; 2015 Sep; 92(3):190-3; doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2015.06.020

Women that desire medical abortions must visit clinical facilities in order to obtain the necessary drugs, however, this requirement can be a substantial barrier to care. Eliminating it could have profound benefits to reduce cost and expand access to MA. In order to make this possible, two key components of the standard initial visit would need to be restructured. Alternatives to ultrasound and pelvic exam would need to be identified for ensuring that gestational age is within the limit for safe and effective treatment; and the Food and Drug Administration would need to remove the medically unwarranted restriction on distribution of mifepristone.