Objective: To assess the safety and effectiveness of manual vacuum aspiration for abortion in a primary care office setting.

Design: Retrospective chart audit.

Setting: Private family practice office.

Patients: A total of 1769 consecutive women who obtained an abortion in this office between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 1995, for whom 1677 medical charts were available for review.

Main outcome measures: Rate of complete abortion, estimated blood loss, and rate of complications. Complications included early complications of uterine perforation, cervical injury, and hospitalization, and late complications of pelvic infection and retained products of conception.

Results: Overall, manual vacuum aspiration was 99.5% effective in terminating pregnancy through 12 weeks of gestation. There were no major complications, and the minor complications of retained products of conception and infection were easily treated.

Conclusion: Manual vacuum aspiration performed in a primary care office setting is safe and effective in terminating pregnancy through the end of the 10th week of gestation.