Same-Day Synthetic Osmotic Dilators Compared With Overnight Laminaria Before Abortion at 14-18 Weeks of Gestation

摘要

Many women in the United States have limited access to second-trimester surgical abortions. A small percentage of abortion providers offers second-trimester services, and women often have to travel long distances for care.1 Surgical abortion between 14 and 18 weeks of gestation generally is offered as a 2-day procedure in which patients undergo cervical preparation with Laminaria for 24 hours before the abortion.2 This multiday procedure creates further barriers to abortion access because women often have to travel, take several days off work, arrange for child care, or a combination of these to have the abortion completed.