Induction of abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol in early pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of the combination of mifepristone and an orally active prostaglandin, misoprostol, for early medical termination.

DESIGN: Women with amenorrhoea < or = 56 days were given 200 mg mifepristone. 48 h later, 600 micrograms misoprostol was given orally.

SETTING: Medical Termination Unit, Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion, Edinburgh.

SUBJECTS: 100 women requesting medical termination of pregnancy.

INTERVENTIONS: Evacuation of uterus for incomplete abortion or on-going pregnancies.

RESULTS: One woman had an incomplete abortion prior to administration of misoprostol. 92 (93%) out of 99 women had complete abortion following administration of misoprostol. There were three on-going pregnancies (3.0%, 95% confidence limits (CL) 0.6-8.6) and four incomplete abortions with this regimen (4.0%, 95% CL 1.1-10.0). 24% women vomited and 7% had diarrhoea following administration of misoprostol. 62% did not require any analgesia.

CONCLUSIONS: The combination of misoprostol with mifepristone is inexpensive, simple, effective, noninvasive and an acceptable alternative to current regimens for medical termination.