The role of parity in medical abortion up to 49 days of amenorrhoea.
OBJECTIVE
To identify possible risk factors for failure of medical abortion.


METHODS
Retrospective study of data collected between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2005, concerning 1850 women who, for medical abortion up to 49 days of amenorrhoea, had received 600 mg oral mifepristone followed 48 h later by 400 microg oral misoprostol and, if necessary, a second oral dose of 400 microg.


RESULTS
The method was effective in 97.1% of cases. Fifty four failures (2.9%) were recorded, including seven continuing pregnancies (0.4%). The global efficacy rate of this mifepristone-misoprostol regimen is among the best using similar treatment protocols. The proportion of failures augmented with parity.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that parity is a major factor influencing the success of medical abortion. A greater parity of the patients was associated with a lower efficacy of treatment.
Lefebvre
Philippe
P
Service d'Orthogenie, Centre Hospitalier de Roubaix, Roubaix, France. philippe.lefebvre@ch-roubaix.fr
Cotte
Martine
M
Monniez
Nicole
N
Norel
Gerard
G
D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000209:etiology*; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D016595:Misoprostol; D015735:Mifepristone