All women seeking early medical abortion should be offered NSAIDs for pain relief, starting with a 1600mg dose of ibuprofen, recommend Australian-first guidelines published this week. 

This single off-label dose should be followed by 400-600mg ibuprofen eight hourly, with a maximum daily dose of 2400mg while pain persists, according to the RANZCOG-developed guidance. 

Doctors can also forgo routine testing of blood group for Rh D status before early medical or surgical abortions, based on indirect evidence from studies showing no or minimal sensitisation following a first trimester loss or induced abortion.

Cairns GP Dr Heather McNamee, who provides telehealth abortion services for Clinic 66, said the guidelines reflected the latest clinical evidence, particularly for ibuprofen use over paracetamol for medical abortion before 14 weeks’ gestation.