This program is designed to educate health care providers about options available for their patients making decisions about pregnancies, including manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and medication management. This project builds on work from a collaborative project, which represented the work of several national clinical and advocacy groups, including The Abortion Access Project, American Medical Women's Association (AMWA), Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP), Center for Reproductive Health Education in Family Medicine (formerly known as the Access Project), Center for Reproductive Health Policy and Research, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Early Options, Ipas, Medical Students for Choice (MSFC), National Abortion Federation (NAF), National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH), Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health (PRCH), and Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA).
You may request an ARHP speaker to present this medical education lecture at your event, including clinical conference or grand rounds session. Speaker honoraria and travel expenses will be covered by ARHP. To request a lecture, please click here to complete and submit the form. For more information about the program, please contact Matt Brenner at mbrenner@arhp.org or (202) 621-1406.
Background
Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA) is an in-office procedure similar to endometrial biopsy. Uterine contents are aspirated by manually generating negative air pressure into the syringe, a virtually silent procedure. MVA is most commonly used for early pregnancy loss, elective termination of early pregnancy, and completion of failed medical abortion. In September 2000, the FDA approved mifepristone for use in medication management of pregnancy in the United States. With this development, women now have more options when making decisions about their pregnancies.
Program Design and Educational Activities
This program includes carefully developed components for health care providers’ education. These components have been established based on the most research in the field and the expertise of the Expert Medical Advisory Committee.
Curriculum Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of these sessions, participants will be able to:
- List four clinical indications for manual vacuum aspiration.
- List four factors to consider when counseling women about MVA versus medical management of early pregnancy loss.
- List three conditions in a patient that should cause a provider to use caution before providing MVA or medical management of early pregnancy loss.
- List at least one medication regimen used for early medication abortion.
Intended Audience and Accreditation
This activity is designed for primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, registered nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, researchers, public health professionals, and health educators in the field of reproductive health, general practice, and emergency medicine.
The curriculum/live sessions associated with this program are accredited for continuing medical education, nursing contact hours, and pharmacology credits.
Funding
The project has been made possible through an educational grant from Ipas.
