This document discusses best practices for post-abortion family planning. It notes that unmet need for family planning is a primary cause of induced abortion. All women receiving post-abortion care should receive voluntary family planning counseling and be offered a wide range of contraceptive methods. Providing universal access to post-abortion family planning should be the standard of care, as failure to offer contraception has failed the patient.

1. Postabortion Family Planning
Douglas Huber MD, MSc, Co-Chair FP/RH Working
Group
Christian Connections for International Health
(www.ccih.org)
Pre-Conference Workshop: Addressing Family Planning
from Christian Viewpoints
Marymount University, Arlington, VA
9 June 2012
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2. Post Abortion Family Planning:
Key Message
• “If the woman we treat for post abortion
complications is there because she could not get
contraception, we have failed her.
• If she leaves without family planning we have failed
her twice.”
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3. Key consensus points: Post-abortion FP
• Globally, one in three pregnancies ends in abortion –
more than 70 million (spontaneous or induced)
• Unmet need for family planning--primary cause of
induced abortion
• At risk of another pregnancy in two to three weeks
post procedure
• All post-abortion women should receive voluntary
post abortion family planning counseling
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4. Key consensus points: post-abortion FP
• Wide range of contraceptive methods, including
long-acting methods offered—with simple written
instructions
• PAC FP uptake high when offered before discharge
• Provision of universal access to post abortion FP
should be standard of practice for doctors, nurses,
and midwives
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5. Best practice: Health providers ensure universal
access to postabortion as well as postpartum
family planning
REMEMBER:
• The most common harm for women using
contraception is an unintended pregnancy—often
leading to abortion
• All postabortion women need to delay next
pregnancy 6+ months, including those who lost a
wanted pregnancy (miscarriage)
• If she leaves without family planning we have
failed her twice
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