The roles of clinical assessment, human chorionic gonadotropin assays, and ultrasonography in medical abortion practice.

The clinical assessment of patients who request early medical abortion includes confirmation of the diagnosis of pregnancy and estimation of gestational age. Accurate gestational dating is essential, because the efficacies of medical abortion regimens decline as pregnancy advances. Whereas medical abortion researchers in the United States have relied on routine ultrasonography for gestational dating, abortion providers experienced with mifepristone and prostaglandin regimens outside the United States have reported high efficacy and safety primarily with clinical dating parameters. Diligent follow-up of patients allows clinicians to confirm that complete abortion has occurred without complications. In cases of uncertain outcome or suspected ectopic pregnancy, transvaginal ultrasonography and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin assays can assist in prompt diagnosis and management. As medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol becomes more prevalent in the United States, studies will be needed to further evaluate the effects of these modalities on medical abortion outcomes.