title: A comparison of osmotic dilators, Lamicel and Dilapan, and a prostaglandin E1 analogue, gemeprost, for ripening the cervix before legal abortion.
abstract: 66 primigravid women were allocated at random to receive either intravaginal application of the prostaglandin El analogue, gemeprost, or intracervical insertion of 1 of 2 osmotic dilators, Lamicel or Dilapan, 3 hours before legal abortion at 7-14 weeks gestation.  Insertion of the dilators was not possible in 5 patients.  All 3 methods were otherwise equally effective in achieving cervical dilatation and there was no difference in the need for or resistance to further dilatation between the 3 groups.  Gemeprost was the most easily administered, and would be the most appropriate for routine preoperative use.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Golland
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Vaughan-williams
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elstein
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D001695:Biology; D001723:Birth Rate; D002584:Cervix Uteri; D003267:Contraception; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003710:Demography; D004703:Endocrine System; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005298:Fertility; D005835:Genitalia; D005836:Genitalia, Female; D006801:Humans; D010298:Parity; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010827:Physiology; D011153:Population; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011453:Prostaglandins; D012106:Research; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014566:Urogenital System; D014599:Uterus
chemical_list: D011453:Prostaglandins
keywords: Abortion, Induced; Biology; Cervical Effects; Cervix; Contraception; Contraceptive Usage; Data Analysis; Demographic Factors; Endocrine System; Evaluation; Family Planning; Fertility; Fertility Control, Postconception; Fertility Measurements; Genitalia; Genitalia, Female; Method Acceptability; Parity; Physiology; Population; Population Dynamics; Primiparity; Prostaglandins--administraction and dosage; Research Methodology; Urogenital System; Uterus