Experiences of women living in Hungary seeking a medical abortion online

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyse the characteristics and experiences of women living in Hungary who accessed a medical abortion through the telemedical service Women on Web.

Methods: We examined the characteristics and experiences of 136 women who requested a medical abortion from Women on Web between June 2013 and February 2017. The main outcome measures were acceptability and satisfaction with the service.

Results: Of the 136 women who completed an online consultation, 118 requested a medical abortion package. Follow-up information was provided by 73 women (61.9%), of whom 49 completed the follow-up survey and 24 provided follow-up information via email. Of the 59 women who went ahead with a medical abortion, five (8.5%) had a surgical intervention afterwards. All women who completed the follow-up survey reported that they found a home medical abortion to be acceptable.

Conclusion: The lack of availability of medical abortion in the public health sector in Hungary and compulsory biased counselling make medical abortion at home through telemedicine a good alternative for Hungarian women.

Chinese abstract

目的：本研究的目的是分析通过远程医疗服务网进行药物流产的匈牙利妇女特点和经验。

方法：我们调查了2013年6月至2017年2月期间136名网上申请药物流产女性的特点和经验, 主要结局指标是对服务的接受程度和满意度。

结果：在136名完成在线咨询的妇女中, 有118名进行了药物流产方案。 73名妇女（61.9％）提供了后续信息, 其中49人完成了后续调查, 24人通过电子邮件提供了后续信息。 59名首先进行药物流产的女性中, 有五名（8.5％）后续进行手术干预。所有完成了后续调查的女性, 均认为在家进行药物流产是可以接受的。

结论：匈牙利公共卫生部门较少使用药物流产以及缺少相关咨询, 使得通过远程医疗在家进行药物流产成为匈牙利妇女一个很好的选择。

Keywords:

• Abortion
• abortion policy
• Hungary
• medical abortion
• pregnancy termination

Disclosure statement

Rebecca Gomperts is the director of Women on Web.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for this study.