Cervixes are dynamic, incredible organs that can change shape, consistency, feel, and even almost disappear entirely at different points of menstruation, ovulation, pregnancy loss, and birthing.
Abortion Care Changes During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Abortion care is changing right now. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the way people access abortions, and the way clinicians provide them has come under careful consideration. In most cases, this has meant decreased in-person contact and eliminating a lot of the peripheral things that come along with abortion provision, like bloodwork, ultrasound, and counseling. As someone who has long supported out-of-clinic abortion care, these changes are encouraging, to see an abortion care system I usually perceive as rigid starting to relax and take a look at evidence-based, client-centered care principles.
Using Misoprostol to Induce Abortion
One of the more important developments in research around medication abortion protocols is that misoprostol works well to induce an abortion all on its own. Sound, scientific studies have shown that even without Mifepristone, misoprostol alone is safe, effective, and (unlike Mifepristone) much more accessible and affordable.
Miscarriage Management with Medications
Slowly but surely, there is a growing body of literature and medical practice around administering medication protocols for early pregnancy loss. The delay in the uptake of medications for miscarriage management is often tied to the stigma of these medications and research around them being typically used for abortion … despite the physiology between an early abortion and an early miscarriage being nearly identical.