Complications for surgical first trimester abortion are rare. The included studies do not indicate overall benefits of one over the other method. MVA can be used for early first trimester surgical abortion, but maybe more difficult when used later in the first trimester. Duration of procedure is shorter with VA compared to D&C, which may be of importance when using local anaesthetics or for busy clinics. Outcomes such as women's satisfaction, the need for pain relief or surgeons preference for the instrument have been inadequately addressed. No long-term outcomes, such as fertility after surgical abortion, are available.
Manual vacuum aspiration, a safe and effective alternative in early pregnancy termination.
Vacuum aspiration has become standard surgical procedure for safe early pregnancy termination. Most of these operations are performed in the operating theater using suction curettage and an electric vacuum pump. MVA (manual vacuum aspiration) is an alternative that is well suited for use as a clinical procedure, which could have advantages both for the patient and the health care system. In order to compare conventional VA and MVA in a Swedish setting, a randomized study was undertaken.
                Two hundred women requesting abortion in early pregnancy, gestational age less than 56 days, and choosing surgical termination, were randomized to VA or MVA. Main study outcome was frequency of complete abortion but also other variables were recorded.
                There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding background characteristics. Altogether 91 MVA and 88 VA operations were performed. There was no significant difference in frequency of complete abortion; two patients in each group subsequently needed re-curettage because of incomplete evacuation. No case of ongoing pregnancy occurred. Two patients in each group received treatment for endometritis. No other complications were recorded.
                This study indicates that MVA is effective in emptying the uterine cavity, on par with the standard vacuum aspiration. The rate of complications with MVA was on the same low level as with conventional VA.