Second trimester abortion using intravaginal misoprostol

• Published in: International journal of gynecology and obstetrics Vol. 60; no. 2; pp. 161 - 165
• Main Authors: Herabutya, Y, O-Prasertsawat, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.02.1998; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal - administration & dosage; Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal - adverse effects; Abortion, Induced - methods; Administration, Intravaginal; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Induced abortion. Therapeutic abortion; Intravaginal misoprostol; Medical sciences; Misoprostol - administration & dosage; Misoprostol - adverse effects; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Second trimester abortion; Thailand; Tropical medicine; Thailand; Second trimester abortion; Intravaginal misoprostol; Second trimester; Pregnancy; Human; Intravaginal administration; Treatment efficiency; Induced abortion; Developing countries; Female; Misoprostol; Cost efficiency analysis; Prostaglandin derivatives
• ISSN: 0020-7292; 1879-3479
• DOI: 10.1016/S0020-7292(97)00244-0

Objective: To find the effective dose of intravaginal misoprostol to induce second trimester abortion. Methods: Intravaginal misoprostol in 200-μg, 400-μg and 600-μg doses were applied at 12-h intervals in 150 consecutive pregnancies. Results: The 48-h successful abortion rate was 70.6%, 82% and 96%, respectively, and these rates were unaffected by parity. The mean induction to abortion interval was 45.0±41.5, 33.4±34.9 and 22.3±14.3 h, respectively. The mean dose of misoprostol required to induce abortion was 416.7 μg, 772.8 μg and 1296 μg. The rate of nausea and vomiting was 3.9%, 12% and 20%. The diarrhea occurrence rate was 0%, 6% and 22% with temperature elevation 0%, 2% and 28%, respectively. The rate of incomplete abortion was 35.3%, 28% and 22%, respectively. Conclusion: The 600-μg dose is more effective as an abortifacient agent for second trimester abortion in terms of 48-h success rate and the rate of incomplete abortion but with more side effects. However, the side effects were mild and did not warrant any specific treatment.