Home use of two doses of misoprostol after mifepristone for medical abortion: a pilot study in Sweden and France.
OBJECTIVE
To test the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of home use of two doses of misoprostol for medical abortion (MA) in European settings.


METHODS
One hundred thirty women (100 in Sweden, 30 in France) presenting for first-trimester MA were administered oral mifepristone in the clinic and sent home with two 400 microg doses of misoprostol, along with instructions to take the misoprostol at 24 h intervals. Women were also asked to complete a daily symptom diary. Outcomes of interest included effectiveness, side-effects, and adherence to and acceptability of the home-use regimen.


RESULTS
Three women (all in France) were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 127 women, 124 (98%) had a successful MA. All women adhered successfully to the home-use regimen, and satisfaction with home use was high (98%). Most women experienced noticeable, if transitory, side effects after both the first and second doses of misoprostol (97% and 94%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Misoprostol may successfully and satisfactorily be used at home as part of a MA regimen in European settings as it has been for years in the US. Further research to determine if two doses of misoprostol are more effective than a single dose would be useful.
Clark
W H
WH
Gynuity Health Projects, New York, USA.
Hassoun
D
D
Gemzell-Danielsson
K
K
Fiala
C
C
Winikoff
B
B
D000019:Abortifacient Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D013548:Sweden
D000019:Abortifacient Agents; D016595:Misoprostol; D015735:Mifepristone