Researchers at UC San Francisco (UCSF) have found that patients receiving medication abortion via telehealth without prior ultrasounds achieve outcomes comparable to those who undergo in-person evaluations. Published in JAMA on June 24, the study contributes to a growing body of evidence from UCSF’s Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) program, confirming the safety and effectiveness of remote medication abortion services. Despite recent legal challenges, including a narrow Supreme Court ruling upholding FDA guidelines for remote prescribing, medication abortion remains a crucial option as it accounts for approximately two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. The study analyzed data from 585 patients across several states, dividing them into three groups: those screened via telehealth without ultrasound who received medications by mail, those assessed via telehealth receiving medications in person, and those receiving medications after undergoing ultrasounds. Results indicated that 95% of participants experienced complete abortions without requiring additional treatments, with serious adverse events remaining rare across all groups. Lauren J. Ralph, the study’s first author and an associate professor at UCSF, emphasized that patient history can effectively assess gestational age without the need for ultrasounds, thus overcoming barriers to accessing abortion care. The study follows earlier UCSF research demonstrating the viability of telehealth and mail-order delivery for medication abortion, reinforcing that current restrictions on these services lack scientific justification. Daniel Grossman, director of ANSIRH, reiterated that the findings strongly support the notion that telehealth evaluations and pharmacy dispensing of abortion pills are safe and effective, urging policymakers to consider the evidence in ongoing debates over reproductive healthcare access.
Ultrasound Telehealth Proven Safe and Effective for Medication Abortion
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