How a prior early abortion affects later pregnancy complications and outcomes

Effects of Prior Induced Termination of Pregnancy on Complications and Pregnancy Outcomes.

This project will try to see if having an early induced abortion (before 12 weeks) changes the risk of complications or outcomes in later pregnancies for women who can be followed over time.

Quick facts

• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 20000 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 40 Years
• Sex: Female
• Sponsor: National Research Institute for Family Planning, China (Government)
• Locations: 12 sites (Zhongshan, Guangdong and 11 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT04183829 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a prospective multicenter cohort enrolling women who had an induced abortion in early pregnancy (<12 weeks) at three hospitals across China and following them forward to document subsequent pregnancy outcomes. Investigators will collect clinical information and record pregnancy complications through scheduled follow-ups and medical records. Eligible participants are permanent local residents under 40 without a prior history of adverse pregnancy or childbirth and who can provide informed consent and reliable contact information. The multicenter design is intended to capture regional variation in real-world outcomes rather than test a specific treatment intervention.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Women under 40 who had an induced abortion before 12 weeks, are permanent residents at a participating site, can communicate and consent, and are willing to complete follow-up are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Women over 40, those with a history of adverse pregnancy or childbirth, or those who cannot complete follow-up are not eligible and would not benefit from participation or the study findings.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help clinicians and patients better understand and discuss risks after an early abortion and guide pregnancy care to reduce complications.

How similar studies have performed: Some retrospective studies have reported small associations between prior abortion and later outcomes, but prospective multicenter evidence is limited and results are mixed.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* women have induced abortion in early pregnancy (\<12 weeks of gestation).
* permanent population and no tendency to move.
* normal language expression and understanding ability, able to understand research content.
* be able and willing to provide written informed consent and effective contact information, and be willing to cooperate with follow-up investigations.

Exclusion Criteria:

* above the age of 40
* with history of adverse pregnancy and childbirth

Where this trial is running

Zhongshan, Guangdong and 11 other locations

• Zhongshan Boai Hospital — Zhongshan, Guangdong, China (Recruiting)
• Zhangjiakou Maternal and Child Health Hospital — Zhangjiakou, Hebei, China (Recruiting)
• Daqing People's Hospital — Daqing, Heilongjiang, China (Recruiting)
• Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital — Changzhou, Jiangsu, China (Recruiting)
• Yangzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital — Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China (Recruiting)
• People's Hospital of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region — Hohhot, Mongolia Autonomous, China (Recruiting)
• Qingdao Maternal and Child Health Hospital — Qingdao, Shandong, China (Completed)
• Zaozhuang Maternal and Child Health Hospital — Zaozhuang, Shandong, China (Recruiting)
• Taiyuan Maternal and Child Health Hospital — Taiyuan, Shanxi, China (Recruiting)
• Tanggu Maternal and Child Health Hospital — Tanggu, Tianjin Municipality, China (Completed)
• Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children — Chongqing, China (Recruiting)
• Shenzhen Luohu Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital — Shenzhen, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Pei Kaiyan — National Research Institute for Family Planning (NRIFP)
• Study coordinator: Jiang Xue, M.D.

Conditions Reproductive Health; Abortion