Effects of Aromatherapy on Patient Satisfaction With Surgical Abortion at Less Than 10 Weeks Gestation

The investigators propose a single-site, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial of lavender aromatherapy versus placebo for patient satisfaction in adult women having a surgical abortion before 10 weeks and 0 days gestation. The investigators will evaluate whether lavender aromatherapy is an effective adjunct therapy for patient satisfaction during first trimester surgical abortion. The investigators will measure satisfaction using the Iowa Satisfaction with Anesthesia Scale (ISAS). The investigators hypothesize that women receiving lavender aromatherapy will report higher satisfaction scores compared to women receiving placebo.

Prior studies have investigated the use of aromatherapy in laboring patients, in menstruating women, and in general post-operative populations. No investigations have focused on the use of lavender aromatherapy as an adjunct therapy to paracervical block and/or oral narcotics and anxiolytics in outpatient surgical abortion. This study is novel in investigating patient satisfaction with first trimester surgical abortion using lavender aromatherapy.

The contribution of this proposed research to the literature is significant because current affordable anesthetic adjuncts to opioids and benzodiazepines are limited.

Inclusion criteria

• Women18 years or older
• Have decide to have a pregnancy termination with no sedation or oral sedation.
• Are less than10 weeks 0 days gestational age with viable pregnancy.
• Agree to being randomized to aromatherapy or placebo

Exclusion criteria

• Contraindications or allergies to ibuprofen, lidocaine, or jojoba oil.
• A non-viable intrauterine pregnancy
• A pregnancy greater than or equal to 10 weeks gestational age.
• Adults who are unable to consent or who are currently incarcerated.