Effects of parity and gestational age on second-trimester induction–abortion interval in combination with osmotic dilators and gemeprost

• Published in: Contraception (Stoneham) Vol. 86; no. 2; pp. 147 - 152
• Main Authors: Kai, Kentaro, Karakida, Shinya, Kono, Michiharu, Sasaki, Toshio, Togo, Kazumi, Tsuno, Akitoshi, Nishida, Yoshihiro, Narahara, Hisashi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.08.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal - administration & dosage; Abortion, Induced - adverse effects; Administration, Intravaginal; Adolescent; Adult; Alprostadil - administration & dosage; Alprostadil - analogs & derivatives; Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Cervical Ripening - drug effects; Dilatation and Curettage; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Fetal Development; Gemeprost; Genital system. Reproduction; Gestational age; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Induced abortion. Therapeutic abortion; Induction–abortion interval; Japan - epidemiology; Medical abortion; Medical Records; Medical sciences; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Parity; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Placenta, Retained - epidemiology; Placenta, Retained - surgery; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Proportional Hazards Models; Retrospective Studies; Second trimester; Time Factors; Young Adult; Japan; Second trimester; Gemeprost; Parity; Induction–abortion interval; Gestational age; Medical abortion; Induction; Osmotic dilator; Induced abortion; Oxytocic; Abortifacient; Induction-abortion interval; Prostaglandin derivatives; Interval
• ISSN: 0010-7824; 1879-0518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2011.11.016

Abstract 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. Study Design 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.