The researchers assessed the applicability, acceptability, and cost implications of introducing the MVA technique with local anesthesia for fully conscious first-trimester termination of pregnancy within our service and our population. The researchers conducted this study in an outpatient setting of a Pregnancy Advisory Service within an NHS Sexual Health Service.

Routinely researchers used collected data to provide information on the uptake, demographic details, timing, pain score, complications, contraceptive uptake, and economic implications for our service.

305/1681 potentially eligible women chose MVA. Forty percent had the procedure on the day they attended for assessment. Seventy-nine percent gave a pain score of 3 or less out of 10. Complications occurred in six cases; these included cervical rigidity, a false passage, retained products of conception, bleeding, and one allergic reaction. Eighty percent of women chose to commence the LARC method at the time of MVA.

The study concluded that the technique for fully conscious MVA was very suitable for our outpatient setting. It was associated with deficient levels of pain and bleeding. The uptake of LARC was high, and particularly the ability to provide intrauterine contraception at MVA was associated with very high uptake.

Reference: https://srh.bmj.com/content/41/1/27

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