title: Vaginal misoprostol for cervical priming before dilatation and curettage in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy of vaginal misoprostol for cervical priming before dilatation and curettage in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four postmenopausal women with indication for dilatation and curettage were randomly assigned to receive either 400 micro g of misoprostol or placebo vaginally 6 h before dilatation and curettage. The main outcome measures were the number of women who required cervical dilatation, cervical width, time taken to dilate to Hegar 6 and other complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean cervical diameter (4.59 millimeters in the misoprostol group vs 4.41 millimeters in the placebo group) was comparable between the two groups. A similar number of women in the misoprostol group and in the placebo group required cervical dilatation (12 vs 16, P = 0.35). The operative times for both groups were similar. The incidence of side-effects was comparable in both groups. There were two uterine perforations in the misoprostol group (2 vs 0).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no significant benefit from applying 400 micro g vaginal misoprostol 6 h prior to dilatation and curettage in postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Soysuwan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bunnasathiansri
authors.forename: Yongyoth
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Herabutya
authors.forename: Pratak
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O-Prasertsawat
mesh_terms: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects*; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017698:Postmenopause; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D016595:Misoprostol