‘I was told it would be like a period’: Women shocked at pain of medical abortion
Being told to expect pain similar to period cramps left women unprepared for the experience, a survey shows.
Nearly half of women responding to a survey on the pain of medical abortion reported it was worse than anticipated, with some accusing providers of ‘sugar-coating’ their consults.
UK researchers asked almost 1600 women who had a medical abortion at 10 weeks or less about the pain they had felt.
Many reported health providers told them to expect pain similar to period cramps, which a number said left them unprepared for the experience.
Almost half said the pain was worse than they had expected, and over 40% rated their pain as eight out of 10 or higher.
