Medical abortion emerged as one of the hot topics at the Global Safe Abortion Conference, which took place in London during 23-24 October. Gynuity Health President Beverley Winikoff described it as “the most important revolution in sexual and reproductive health since the contraceptive pill,” calling on donors and health providers worldwide to “seize the chance to benefit women everywhere”.
With improved dosages helping to make medical abortion more affordable and with increased usage by women in their own homes as well as in clinics, the method is becoming increasingly acceptable and accessible. Medical abortion is set to extend access to safe services where they are in short supply. In areas already served by safe surgical services, medical abortion will allow women to choose a method that best suits them.
MSI is pioneering the delivery of medical abortion through social marketing and rural outreach in order to reduce the number of (largely rural) women in developing countries who resort to unsafe methods because safe services are beyond their reach.