Abortion pills are safe and effective when used early pregnancyAccording to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Traditionally, clinics and hospitals delay medication abortion until ultrasound confirms pregnancy, usually around the sixth week, but this research challenges that practice, finding that earlier administration Is both safe and successful.

Dr. Karin Brandel, lead researcher and gynecologist at Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden, explained the relevance of the findings: “Women often know very early whether they are pregnant, and many even know if She wants to have an abortion. If so, they would like it to happen as soon as possible.” The study provides promising data that suggests women can safely take abortion pills before the sixth week, potentially allowing them to deal with unwanted pregnancies sooner.

Usually, doctors recommend waiting for an ultrasound to rule out the risk of ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when an embryo implants outside the uterus (often in the fallopian tube), is not resolved by medical abortion and can be dangerous. However, in cases of undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy, researchers found that the safety of early medication abortion was not compromised.

The study analyzed more than 1,500 women from 26 clinics in nine countries, all of whom sought an abortion before an ultrasound-confirmed pregnancy. These women were divided into two groups: one got the drug early, and the other had to wait until the pregnancy was confirmed via ultrasound. The results showed that in both groups, more than 95 percent of the women had a complete and successful abortion. Only minor differences were seen between the groups – 4.5 percent of women in the delayed group required surgery for incomplete miscarriage, compared with 1.8 percent in the early group.

Notably, participants in the early group reported less pain and bleeding than those in the delayed group, underscoring the comfort benefits of earlier access. The researchers also noted that 1% of all study participants had an ectopic pregnancy. Regardless of the situation, early medication abortion was found to be safe and effective.

Dr Christina Gemzel-Danielsson, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Karolinska Institutet, commented on the wider implications of the findings: “Early medical abortion was just as effective and safe, even in cases of undiagnosed ectopic pregnancies.”

The study highlights differences in access and policies around the world. “In Sweden, a woman can repeat the procedure one week after an unsuccessful initial abortion, while Texas has a ban on abortion after six weeks,” Brandel said.

Researchers are now exploring the possibility of developing a new drug combination that could treat ectopic pregnancies and are investigating mifepristone, one of the drugs used in medication abortion, as a potential weekly contraceptive in low doses to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Are doing.

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