Remarks:

• Women, girls and other pregnant persons must be adequately informed about symptoms of ongoing pregnancy (which may or may not indicate failure of the abortion) and other medical reasons to return for follow-up, such as prolonged heavy bleeding, no bleeding at all with medical management of abortion, pain not relieved by medication, or fever.
• The quality of the evidence was low (observational studies and indirect evidence).

KEY HUMAN RIGHTS CONSIDERATIONS RELEVANT TO FOLLOW-UP CARE

• Regardless of whether abortion is legal, States are required to ensure access to postabortion care where it is needed.
• Post-abortion care must be available on a confidential basis, including in situations where abortion is illegal.
• Post-abortion care must be available without the threat of criminal prosecution or punitive measures. States must not require health workers to report persons suspected of undertaking unlawful abortion, or require them to provide any potentially incriminating information during or as a prerequisite to receiving post-abortion care.