Mifepristone followed in 24 hours to 48 hours by misoprostol for late first-trimester abortion.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of mifepristone and misoprostol for the termination of pregnancies in the late first trimester.


METHODS
This was a prospective study of 321 women seeking termination of pregnancy with gestations from 64 days to 84 days (+/-3 days) by vaginal ultrasonography. Women were enrolled at three sites: University of Rochester Reproductive Health Program in Rochester, New York; Hung Vuong Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and K.E.M. Hospital in Pune, India. Eligible women received 800 mcg of misoprostol vaginally between 24 hours and 48 hours after administration of 200 mg mifepristone. Two additional doses of 400 mcg of misoprostol were administered either orally or vaginally as needed every 3 hours for a maximum of two additional doses (total 1,600 mcg). The primary study outcome measure was complete abortion without surgical intervention.


RESULTS
Eighty-nine percent of women who completed the study successfully terminated their pregnancies. Most women were either satisfied (64.8%) or very satisfied (28.6%) with their experience. Ninety-four percent of women reported that they would recommend the procedure to a friend. Most women (90.4%) also agreed they would request a medical abortion if they required another abortion at this gestational age.


CONCLUSIONS
Medical abortion is acceptable and effective in the late first trimester and offers women an acceptable alternative to surgical abortion.


METHODS
II.
Bracken
Hillary
H
Gynuity Health Projects, New York, New York 10010, USA. hbracken@gynuity.org
Ngoc
Nguyen Thi Nhu
NT
Schaff
Eric
E
Coyaji
Kurus
K
Ambardekar
Shubha
S
Westheimer
Emily
E
Winikoff
Beverly
B
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D016595:Misoprostol; D015735:Mifepristone