Call to review NICE Anti-D Guidelines

The British Society of Abortion Care Providers (BSACP) has collaborated with leaders in abortion services across the independent sector and the NHS to call for an urgent review of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on anti-D administration in the context of abortion care [NG140]. The current guideline state, for people who have Rhesus-negative blood type:

• Do not offer anti-D prophylaxis to women undergoing medical abortion up to and including 10 weeks’ gestation.
• Consider anti-D prophylaxis for women undergoing surgical abortion up to and including 10 weeks’ gestation.
• Offer anti-D prophylaxis to all women undergoing abortion after 10 weeks’ gestation.

Recently published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, the commentary highlights that these guidelines are out of step with international standards and the latest evidence, which support omitting anti-D after abortion up to 12 weeks of gestation regardless of method. The current NICE recommendations place an unnecessary strain on limited healthcare resources and create additional burdens for individuals accessing abortion care.

The commentary reinforces previous requests by BSACP members involved in NICE’s guideline committee for the recommendations to be reviewed.

BSACP urges NICE to prioritise a review of these recommendations to align UK practice with evidence-based, internationally recognised guidelines and enhance care for those seeking abortion services in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.