Effects of parity and gestational age on second-trimester induction-abortion interval in combination with osmotic dilators and gemeprost.
BACKGROUND
The true prognostic factors for induced medical abortion are unknown. We sought to investigate the effects of a patient's obstetric parameters on the induction-abortion interval in second-trimester medical abortion.


METHODS
We studied 216 consecutive women. Pregnancy was terminated with cervical preparation using osmotic dilators followed by 1 mg vaginal gemeprost administered every 3 h for a maximum of five doses in the first 24 h. All variables are expressed in categorical form (parity, gestational age, maternal age and body mass index) and analyzed by the Cox proportional hazards model.


RESULTS
Parity ≥ 3 was associated with a shorter duration of the induction-abortion interval (adjusted hazards ratio 1.96; 95% confidence interval 1.13-3.40). A gestational age ≥ 16 weeks was associated with a longer duration of the induction-abortion interval (0.71; 0.52-0.98). No significant association was found in maternal age and body mass index.


CONCLUSIONS
In combination with osmotic dilators and gemeprost, gestational age and parity are independent factors that affected the induction to abortion interval of second-trimester medical abortion.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kenwakai Otemachi Hospital, Fukuoka 803-0814, Japan. kenta9sp@med.oita-u.ac.jp
Kentaro
K
Kai
Shinya
S
Karakida
Michiharu
M
Kono
Toshio
T
Sasaki
Kazumi
K
Togo
Akitoshi
A
Tsuno
Yoshihiro
Y
Nishida
Hisashi
H
Narahara
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D020070:Cervical Ripening / Q000187:drug effects*; D004107:Dilatation and Curettage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008499:Medical Records; D010298:Parity; D018457:Placenta, Retained / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D000020:Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal; C021182:gemeprost; D000527:Alprostadil