Use of misoprostol prior to hysteroscopy in postmenopausal women: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
To compare results of diagnostic hysteroscopy in postmenopausal women using misoprostol for cervical ripening.


METHODS
A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial (Canadian Task Force classification Ib).


METHODS
Hospital Barão de Lucena, Instituto Materno Infantil de Pernambuco.


METHODS
One hundred-twenty postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Postmenopausal women received 200 microg of vaginal misoprostol or placebo before hysteroscopy.


RESULTS
Variables measured were procedure time, frequency of hysteroscopy carried out in each group (misoprostol and placebo), degree of pain during procedure, need for dilation, side effects, and complications of hysteroscopy. The chi2, Fisher's exact, and Mann-Whitney tests were used and considered significant when alpha error was <5%. There were similarities between the groups in age (p = .09), body mass index (p = .55), time since menopause (p = .52), and genital bleeding (p = .52). Pain during the procedure, as measured by visual analog scale, was less severe in the misoprostol group than in the placebo group (median of 05 vs 07, p = .02), but there were similarities in duration (2.4 min vs 2.0 min, p = .3), pain during procedure and biopsy (p = .74 vs p = .19), need for dilation (p = .66), side effects, and complications. There were no differences in severity of post-procedure pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Previous use of misoprostol reduced pain severity during hysteroscopy.
da Costa
Aurélio Ribeiro
AR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute for Maternal/Infant Health, Perbambuco, Brazil.
Pinto-Neto
Aarão Mendes
AM
Amorim
Melania
M
Paiva
Lúcia Helena Simões Costa
LH
Scavuzzi
Adriana
A
Schettini
Juliana
J
D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000368:Aged; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015907:Hysteroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017698:Postmenopause
D010120:Oxytocics; D016595:Misoprostol