Pain and distress during abortion.

Although there has been recent emphasis on the long-term effects of abortion on women, the distressing aspects of the procedure itself are seldom addressed. The pain and distress experienced by 35 women undergoing first-trimester abortion were addressed. The quality and intensity of pain were measured using the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and a pain intensity visual analog scale (VAS). Distress measures included a VAS, state anxiety, observation of behavior, and observer-rated distress. The women reported elevated levels of state anxiety before the abortion and pain and distress during the procedure. The pattern of verbal descriptors on the MPQ was comparable to previously reported descriptors of abortion, labor, and menstrual pain. The MPQ dimension scores did not differ by type of anesthesia received. Findings indicate that first-trimester abortion is a painful and distressing medical procedure and support the use of the MPQ as a measure of the character and intensity of the pain experienced.