Medical abortion at 63 to 90 days of gestation.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate medical abortion as a treatment alternative for late first-trimester abortions and to evaluate the decrease in beta-hCG after abortion at 63-90 days of gestation.


METHODS
All women received mifepristone 200 mg orally, followed by 800 micrograms misoprostol vaginally 48 hours later. Misoprostol was repeated every 3 hours orally, to a maximum of five doses if needed. A clinical examination including ultrasonography was performed 8-14 days after treatment. beta-hCG level was determined before treatment and at follow-up.


RESULTS
A total of 254 pregnant women with gestational age 63 to 90 days were included. The successful termination rate was 91.7%. Surgical evacuation was carried out in 21 (8.3%) women. Most women (91.0%) found the method of treatment highly acceptable. The beta-hCG levels of women with successful termination had decreased more than 97.5% at follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Medical abortion is an effective and acceptable method for termination of pregnancy in late first trimester.
Løkeland
M
M
From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haukeland University Hospital; and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Iversen
O E
OE
Dahle
G S
GS
Nappen
M H
MH
Ertzeid
L
L
Bjørge
L
L
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D055815:Young Adult
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; D000021:Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D016595:Misoprostol; D015735:Mifepristone
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