Induction of abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol in early pregnancy

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Abstract
To investigate the clinical efficacy of the combination of mifepristone and an orally active prostaglandin, misoprostol, for early medical termination. Women with amenorrhoea < or = 56 days were given 200 mg mifepristone. 48 h later, 600 micrograms misoprostol was given orally. Medical Termination Unit, Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion, Edinburgh. 100 women requesting medical termination of pregnancy. Evacuation of uterus for incomplete abortion or on-going pregnancies. 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. The combination of misoprostol with mifepristone is inexpensive, simple, effective, noninvasive and an acceptable alternative to current regimens for medical termination.