Preference and acceptability of oral versus vaginal administration of misoprostol in medical abortion with mifepristone.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the experience of pain, need of analgesic interventions, preference and acceptability in medical abortion up to 49 days of amenorrhea with mifepristone and orally versus vaginally administered misoprostol.


METHODS
Ninety-seven women were randomised to oral misoprostol, n=48, or vaginal misoprostol, n=49. On day 1 of the study, both the groups received 600 mg of mifepristone. On day 3 of the study, one group received 0.4 mg of misoprostol orally and the other group received 0.8 mg of misoprostol vaginally.


RESULTS
Even though oral administration of misoprostol seemed to be associated with a higher rate of gastrointestinal side effects, women in both the groups showed a clear preference towards the oral route of administration. The willingness to administer the misoprostol at home was also higher among the women in the oral group, which may in part depend on a more positive/less negative experience of the abortion.


CONCLUSIONS
A majority of women prefer oral administration of misoprostol in early medical abortion.
Arvidsson
Caroline
C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
Hellborg
Margareta
M
Gemzell-Danielsson
Kristina
K
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D014621:Vagina; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D000700:Analgesics; D016595:Misoprostol; D015735:Mifepristone