Trends in medication abortion provision before and after the introduction of mifepristone: A study of the National Abortion Federation's Canadian member services

Contraception. 2020 Aug;102(2):119-121. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2020.04.012. Epub 2020 Apr 20.

Abstract

Objective: We analyzed trends in medication abortion provision before and after the 2017 introduction of mifepristone in Canada.

Methods: We reviewed 2016-2018 abortion services data from Canadian members of the National Abortion Federation (NAF) to determine the overall proportion of medication abortions in each calendar year as well as temporal and geographic trends in provision.

Results: In 2016, NAF's Canadian members reported on 33,857 abortions of which 2,844 (8.4%) were with medications and used a methotrexate/misoprostol regimen. In 2018, 8,534 (25.6%) of the 33,320 reported abortions were with mifepristone/misoprostol.

Discussion: Mifepristone/misoprostol has been rapidly incorporated into abortion services in Canada.

Keywords: Canada; Medication abortion; Methotrexate; Mifepristone.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Induced*
  • Abortion, Spontaneous*
  • Canada
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mifepristone
  • Misoprostol*
  • Pregnancy

Substances

  • Misoprostol
  • Mifepristone