The Safety and Qualtiy of Abortion Care in the United States

Question 1

Patient preparation

Answer 1

Includes education, counseling, and informed consent

Question 2

Clinical assessment

Answer 2

Includes confirming intrauterine pregnancy, determining gestation, taking a relevant medical history, and physical examination

Question 3

NSAIDs

Answer 3

Drugs that are recommended to reduce the discomfort of pain and cramping during a medication abortion

Question 4

About Abortion Care in the US

Answer 4

• The abortion rate among US women has been steadily declining, and of which has been attributed to the increasing use of contraceptives and increasing numbers of state regulations that limit the availability of otherwise legal abortion services.
• Women who have abortions are disproportionately low-income.
• Few women are medically ineligible for abortion
• Legal abortions in the US are safe and effective

Question 5

Quality of Abortion Care

Answer 5

The quality of abortion care depends on where a woman lives. In many states, there are regulations that create barriers to safe, effective, patient-centered, and efficient abortion services.
- The regulations often prohibit qualified providers from providing services, misinform women of the risks of the procedures they are considering, overrule women’s and clinician’s medical decision making, or require medically unnecessary services and delays in care.