Jocelyn Warren, MPH, Research Program on Women's Health, University of Oregon, Center for the Study of Women in Society, 1201 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1201, (541) 346-5593, jocelynw@oregon.uoregon.edu, Jillian T. Henderson, PhD, MPH, Center for Reproductive Health Research & Policy, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 335, San Francisco, CA 94118, S. Marie Harvey, DrPH, Center for the Study of Women in Society, University of Oregon, 1201 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, and Linda J Beckman, PhD, Clinical Ph.D. Program, California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, 1000 S. Freemont Avenue, Unit 5, Alhambra, CA 91803.

The introduction of drug-induced abortion in the U.S. has given women an additional option for terminating a pregnancy. Studies have shown that women’s preferences regarding method characteristics influence their choice of abortion methods. Less is known about factors that contribute to satisfaction with the method chosen. In this study we investigate factors associated with women’s satisfaction with their abortion method. As part of a clinical trial, women completed self-administered questionnaires prior to and 3-4 weeks after a methotrexate-induced (N=186) or surgical (N=118) abortion. The pre-abortion questionnaire included items measuring women’s sociodemographic characteristics, decision-making process, and expectations about their chosen abortion procedure. The post-abortion survey included an item measuring satisfaction with the abortion method and questions that assessed experience with pain, anxiety, and bleeding. Nearly half of the women reported that they were very satisfied with their abortion experience. In multivariate analysis we found no significant difference in satisfaction between women who had medical and surgical abortions. Rather than type of abortion, high satisfaction was associated with comfort with the decision to have an abortion, having made the decision regarding abortion type on one’s own, having less pain and anxiety, and having any children. These findings provide evidence that both surgical and medical abortion methods can be highly satisfactory to women. Improvements in pain management, and counseling that assists women in their ability to select their abortion method on their own and to feel comfortable with the decision to have an abortion, could improve women’s experiences with abortion.

Learning Objectives: