Induction of abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol in early pregnancy.

Abstract

To investigate the clinical efficacy of the combination of mifepristone and an orally active prostaglandin, misoprostol, for early medical termination. Women with amenorrhoea < or = 56 days were given 200 mg mifepristone. 48 h later, 600 micrograms misoprostol was given orally. Medical Termination Unit, Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion, Edinburgh. 100 women requesting medical termination of pregnancy. Evacuation of uterus for incomplete abortion or on-going pregnancies. One woman had an incomplete abortion prior to administration of misoprostol. 92 (93%) out of 99 women had complete abortion following administration of misoprostol. There were three on-going pregnancies (3.0%, 95% confidence limits (CL) 0.6-8.6) and four incomplete abortions with this regimen (4.0%, 95% CL 1.1-10.0). 24% women vomited and 7% had diarrhoea following administration of misoprostol. 62% did not require any analgesia. The combination of misoprostol with mifepristone is inexpensive, simple, effective, noninvasive and an acceptable alternative to current regimens for medical termination.