Prostaglandin E2 vaginal suppository as a midtrimester abortifacient

Abstract

The efficacy of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) vaginal suppositories as an abortifacient was evaluated in 40 women between 16 and 20 weeks' gestation. All pregnancies were successfully terminated with a mean time of 12.7 hours (S.D. 5.7). Eight patients (20 per cent) were treated with oxytocin augmentation after spontaneous rupture of the membranes during PGE2 vaginal suppository therapy. Gastrointestinal side effects and drug fever were frequent but self-limiting. The success of this approach eliminates amniocentesis for drug instillation as well as the supplementary use of intravenous oxytocin in high concentrations and/or intracervical laminaria.