Review Article
Authors: Katherine E. Roberts (University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa) , Abbey J Hardy-Fairbanks (University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa) , Colleen K Stockdale (University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa)
Obesity has become a major health problem in the United States as well as globally which may affect the safety of pregnancy termination. Thus, a literature review was conducted to determine the available evidence regarding the effects of obesity with pregnancy termination to assist with patient care and counseling. The available evidence is limited by small numbers and descriptive study design. While pregnancy termination upon obese women may impart additional technical challenges, experienced providers complete procedures upon obese women without statistically significant differences in procedure or patient outcomes compared to normal weight women for first trimester gestations. Pharmacological abortion may be a more practical option in some very obese women.
Keywords: Obesity, body mass index, pregnancy termination, abortion, first trimester abortion, second trimester abortion
How to Cite: Roberts, K. E. , Hardy-Fairbanks, A. J. & Stockdale, C. K. (2014) “The effects of obesity with pregnancy termination: a literature review”, Proceedings in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 4(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.17077/2154-4751.1248