Patient Support During Surgical Abortion

Patient Support During Surgical Abortion

This study will be a non-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT) of women presenting for abortion at <13 6/7 weeks. Women will be randomized either to receive support by a trained abortion doula (intervention) or to have standard procedure (control) during the abortion procedure. The investigators hypothesize that women who receive doula support during a first trimester abortion will report less pain during the abortion procedure compared to women who do not receive abortion doula support.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged > 18 years
• Gestational age by sonogram < 13 6/7 weeks gestation
• Desires pregnancy termination
• Ability to understand the study and give informed consent
• Ability to read and comprehend informed consent document in English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Aged < 18 years
• Gestational age by sonogram > 13 6/7 weeks gestation
• Inability to understand the study and give informed consent
• Inability to read and comprehend informed consent document in English