Self-screening tool for medication abortion found accurate and acceptable

Self-screening tool for medication abortion found accurate and acceptable | Image Credit: © ivanko80 - © ivanko80 - stock.adobe.com.

A self-screening tool is highly acceptable for patients to self-evaluate whether they are able to proceed with a medication abortion without the use of an ultrasound, according to a recent study presented at the 2025 American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology Annual Clinical & Scientific Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from May 16 to May 18, 2025.

Evaluating the self-screening tool for abortion

The study was conducted to determine the accuracy and acceptability of the self-screening, patient education tool among patients attempting to determine their eligibility for medication abortion. Patients completed the self-screening survey before their scheduled medication abortion visit between January 2023 and July 2024.

The survey included embedded educational videos, helping patients determine their eligibility without needing to undergo preabortion ultrasound. After using the tool, patients reported its accessibility and completed a quiz with items related to the process and precautions for medication abortion.

All office visits occurred as planned after the survey had been completed, during which physicians were blinded to the results of the self-screening. The accuracy of quiz responses was determined by comparing the frequency of ultrasound recommendations based on the self-screening tool with that of clinician-performed ultrasound.

Acceptability outcomes and quiz results

There were 128 participants included in the final analysis, 73% of whom were recommended to obtain an ultrasound based on self-screening results. In comparison, 45% of participants underwent a clinician-performed ultrasound.

Correct responses to quiz questions about the process and precautions for medication abortion were reported in over 90% of participants. Acceptability scores were also reported as a primary outcome, with 97% of participants liking the experience of self-responding and 72% feeling they did not need to speak to a doctor as the videos provided sufficient information.

Additionally, 98% of patients felt they could be honest when answering questions. This data indicated the self-screening tool as a highly acceptable, if conservative, method for patients to determine their eligibility to undergo medication abortion without additional ultrasound.

“Educational videos can be effectively integrated in these tools to further reduce the need for clinician support in the medication abortion process,” wrote investigators.

Increased support for medication abortion

Following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (Dobbs) decision in June 2022, nationwide support for medication abortion has risen in the United States.² Comparing surveys conducted before and after Dobbs, investigators of a study published earlier in 2025 found increased support for advance provision (AP) and over-the-counter (OTC) medication.

Support and personal interest for AP medication were 48.9% and 23.6%, respectively, in the pre-Dobbs survey, and rose to 55.1% and 26.4%, respectively, in the post-Dobbs survey. For OTC medication, these rates were from 49.4% and 36%, respectively, to 51.1% and 42.5%, respectively.

Survey respondents highlighted privacy as the most common benefit of AP and OTC abortion medication, with rates of 53.3% and 44.3%, respectively. This was followed by convenience at 48.8% and 51.7%, respectively, and potential for earlier abortion access at 48.4% and 46.6%, respectively.

Overall, the data highlighted nationwide interest in medication abortion. This indicates the importance of additional research into this method.

References

1. Shapiro MP, Mikami BS, Kaneshuro B, et al. Self-screening and patient education tool for medication abortion: accuracy and acceptability. Abstract. Presented at: 2025 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting. May 16-18, 2025. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
2. Krewson C. Increased support for medication abortion reported after Dobbs. Contemporary OB/GYN. January 22, 2025. Accessed May 13, 2025. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/increased-support-for-medication-abortion-reported-after-dobbs.