Voluntary Surgical Terminations of Pregnancy: Comparison of the Hemorrhagic Risk Depending on the Term (HEMOVG)

Voluntary Surgical Terminations of Pregnancy: Comparison of the Hemorrhagic Risk Depending on the Term, Between 10 and 14 Weeks of Amenorrhea or Between 14 and 16 Weeks of Amenorrhea

Voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion) is a major current societal issue. This is a very common situation, around 225,000 abortions are carried out every year in France. The legislation has recently been amended, with the law of March 2, 2022 aimed at strengthening the right to abortion (no. 2022-295) which extended the legal period for voluntary termination of pregnancy from 14 to 16 weeks amenorrhea (AS).

The National College of French Obstetrician Gynecologists (CNGOF), in a press release published on October 12, 2020 in response to the proposed law adopted by the National Assembly, wishes to draw attention to the fact that the procedure of surgical abortion between 14 and 16 AS changes nature. He states that additional procedures are necessary beyond 14 weeks, which could be a source of complications. In addition, the practice recommendations have not been updated following this extension of time, the centers performing abortions are therefore free regarding the protocol for carrying out these so-called late abortions (between 14 and 16 weeks).

There are two pregnancy termination techniques practiced in France: medical or surgical.

Due to the recent nature of these late abortions, practitioners still have little experience of the consequences of these procedures and this compromises the quality of the information provided to patients. It is necessary to have quality studies to improve knowledge about late-term abortions, in order to be able to correctly inform patients and allow them to make an informed choice regarding the method used.

This study follows the modification of the legislation extending the legal period for abortion, with the aim of providing arguments regarding the safety of carrying out surgical abortions at these more advanced stages of pregnancy.

In addition, abortion often generates anxiety, the term at which it is carried out could influence the experience of patients. This study would therefore also improve knowledge about the experience of abortion, in order to better support patients throughout their journey.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Questionnaire

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 312

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Toulouse, France
    • Chu Toulouse

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patient coming at hospital for voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion)

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Woman treated for the performance of a surgical abortion between 10 and 16 weeks (dating by ultrasound)
• Singleton pregnancy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Protected adult patient (guardianship, curatorship, safeguard of justice)
• Refusal to participate expressed by the patient

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Patient treated at the Toulouse University Hospital for an abortion; Patient treated at the Toulouse University Hospital for an abortion between 10 and 16 weeks (dating by ultrasound) presenting with a single and evolving pregnancy	Other: Questionnaire; A questionnaire is offered to patients who meet the eligibility criteria and who have given their non-objection during the abortion request consultation. This questionnaire includes questions for screening for anxiety and depressive disorders.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Evaluation of anxiety or depressive disorder	Anxiety will be measured using State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Scale	3 weeks after abortion

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Hospital, Toulouse
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Lola LOUSSERT-CHAMBRE, MD, University Hospital, Toulouse

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): July 26, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 6, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): February 6, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 29, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 1, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): May 2, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 23, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Investigative Techniques; Epidemiologic Methods; Data Collection; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Public Health; Environment and Public Health; Surveys and Questionnaires
• Other Study ID Numbers: RC31/24/0167

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No