Objective: To assess same-day and delayed reports of pain intensity during and after second-trimester medical termination of pregnancy (MTOP).
Study design: A prospective randomized trial (217 women) comparing 1- and 2-day mifepristone-misoprostol intervals.
Results: Women reported intense pain [median visual analogue scale (interquartile range)] related to expulsion of the fetus [6 (0-10)]. Delayed reports of maximal pain described the pain as more intense than same-day reports [8 (3-10) vs. 7 (1-10), p<.001].
Conclusions: Most women reported and readily remembered intense pain associated with fetal expulsion during second-trimester MTOP.
Implications: Adequate, properly timed pain management during second-trimester MTOP is crucial.
Keywords: Medical abortion; Pain; Recollection; Second trimester abortion; Visual analogue scale.
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