• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • Write for us
  • Contact us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Obstetrics

Serum hCG equal to ultrasonography in medical abortion follow-up

bys25qthea
February 16, 2013
in Obstetrics
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Feb 16th – After medical abortion, both serum hCG and ultrasonography have low rates of unplanned intervention and are equally acceptable forms of follow-up.

[tabs tab1=”2MM Rundown” tab2= “2MM Full Report”]

[tab]

Image: PD

1. After medical abortion, both serum hCG and ultrasonography have low rates of unplanned intervention and are equally acceptable forms of follow-up.

2. Patient preference should be used to decide method of follow-up after abortion.

The present study is the first randomized controlled trial to compare follow-up after medical abortion via serum hCG versus the more traditional method of transvaginal ultrasound. Results found that both methods are acceptable forms of follow-up, evidenced by similarly low rates of unplanned interventions and similarly high rates of patient satisfaction. Given the unique pros and cons of each method (discomfort of needle stick vs. transvaginal ultrasound, drawback of requisite return clinic visits for ultrasound but benefit of visual confirmation) these findings suggest the method of surveillance can be based on patient preferences.

RELATED REPORTS

Higher rate of adverse events following abortion induced by mifepristone-misoprostol than procedurally

Travel time to abortion facilities in the United States significantly increased after the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Decision

The Scan by 2 Minute Medicine®: A Misconception about Miscarriage, Scandal and ADHD, 10000 Steps per Day and Marijuana During Pregnancy!

The study population was homogenous, mainly consisting of young (average age 26), white, English-speaking, single, educated women, and thus results may not be generalizable to other study groups. Another notable limitation is the study’s lack of long term follow-up.  Specifically, hCG surveillance may result in unplanned interventions related to lack of visualization of the uterine cavity, which would not present themselves until more than four weeks after the procedure, outside the time period examined in this study. Further studies should be targeted at evaluating these methods in a more heterogeneous population with long-term follow-up.

Click to read the study in Obstetrics & Gynecology

Click to see the clinical trial registration

[/tab]

[tab]

Image: PD

1. Both serum hCG and ultrasonography have low rates of unplanned intervention and are equally acceptable forms of follow-up for medical abortions.

2. Patient preference should be used to decide method of follow-up.

This [prospective randomized controlled] trial: randomized 376 women undergoing medical abortion to either the serum hCG (n=159) or transvaginal ultrasound (n=151) follow-up. The primary outcome was unplanned interventions measured as a composite combining additional clinic/emergency room visits, repeat dosing of misoprostol, and need for surgical evacuation. Secondary outcome was patient satisfaction with assigned method of follow-up. Outcome ascertainment was performed via follow-up surveys and confirmed by retrospective medical record review.

Within two weeks after medical abortion, 8.2% of women receiving hCG follow-up and 6.6% of women receiving ultrasonography follow-up experienced an unplanned intervention (CI: 0.56-2.73, p=0.6). At four weeks, 1.4% of women in the hCG arm versus 4.4% in the ultrasound arm met primary outcome (CI: 0.07-1.54, p=0.16). There was no significant difference in the type of unplanned intervention required. Overall, patients in both arms expressed satisfaction with their care (88% hCG vs 95% ultrasound, p=0.25).

In sum: The present study is the first randomized controlled trial to compare follow-up after medical abortion via serum hCG versus the more traditional method of transvaginal ultrasound. Results found that both methods are acceptable forms of follow-up, evidenced by similarly low rates of unplanned interventions and similarly high rates of patient satisfaction. Given the unique pros and cons of each method (discomfort of needle stick vs. transvaginal ultrasound, drawback of requisite return clinic visits for ultrasound but benefit of visual confirmation) these findings suggest the method of surveillance can be based on patient preferences.

The study population was homogenous, mainly consisting of young (average age 26), white, English-speaking, single, educated women, and thus results may not be generalizable to other study groups. Another notable limitation is the study’s lack of long term follow-up.  Specifically, hCG surveillance may result in unplanned interventions related to lack of visualization of the uterine cavity, which would not present themselves until more than four weeks after the procedure, outside the time period examined in this study. Further studies should be targeted at evaluating these methods in a more heterogeneous population with long-term follow-up.

Click to read the study in Obstetrics & Gynecology

Click to see the clinical trial registration

By Maren Shapiro and Leah Hawkins

More from this author: New worldwide target for reducing preterm births by 2015, No cost contraception reduces unintended pregnancies, Active-Duty U.S. servicewomen have higher rates of unintended pregnancy

[/tab]

[/tabs]

Tags: abortionhcgultrasound
Previous Post

Breastfeeding associated with lower rates of hypertension

Next Post

School-based therapy reduces asthma symptoms

RelatedReports

Nearly Half of All Pediatric Buprenorphine Exposures Result in Hospitalization
Emergency

Higher rate of adverse events following abortion induced by mifepristone-misoprostol than procedurally

January 10, 2023
Maternal vaccination during pregnancy not associated with infant hospitalization, mortality
Obstetrics

Travel time to abortion facilities in the United States significantly increased after the Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Decision

November 2, 2022
The Scan by 2 Minute Medicine®:  Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, Taylor Swift, NBA rookie Chet Holmgren and Magic Mushrooms!
The Scan by 2 Minute Medicine®

The Scan by 2 Minute Medicine®: A Misconception about Miscarriage, Scandal and ADHD, 10000 Steps per Day and Marijuana During Pregnancy!

October 4, 2022
Screening insufficient for newborns exposed to hepatitis C virus
Chronic Disease

Impact of ultrasonographic blind spots for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma during surveillance

September 19, 2022
Next Post

School-based therapy reduces asthma symptoms

[Physician Comment] Short course of progesterone therapy treats abnormal uterine bleeding

Television watching linked with antisocial behavior in children, supporting AAP recommendations

License Our Award-Winning Physician-Written Medical News and Visual Abstracts

2 Minute Medicine is the leading authoritative medical news licensing service, and the only with reports written by practicing doctors.

LICENSE CONTENT

2MM+ Premium Access

No ads & unlimited access to all current reports, over 9000 searchable archived reports, visual abstracts, Weekly Rewinds, and the online edition of The Classics Series™ textbook.

Subscription Options
2 Minute Medicine

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • Bisphosphonates, denosumab, abaloparatide, teriparatide, and romosozumab reduce postmenopausal fracture risk
  • Epstein-Barr viral load monitoring reduces risk of post-liver transplant lymphoproliferative disease
  • Homicide deaths are on the rise for children living in the United States
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

Want more physician-written
medical news?

Join over 10 million yearly readers and numerous companies. For healthcare professionals
and the public.

Subscribe for free today!

Subscription options