Midtrimester medical termination of pregnancy: a review of 1002 consecutive cases

Contraception. 2004 Jan;69(1):51-8. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2003.09.006.

Abstract

We assessed the effectiveness, safety and factors that affected the outcome of midtrimester medical termination of pregnancy at 13-21 weeks gestation. Of the 1002 women, 3 took mifepristone and decided to continue with the pregnancy, with 999 women being compliant with the regimen. Of these, 2 women aborted prior to administration of misoprostol and 970 (97.1%) aborted successfully within five doses of misoprostol. Surgical intervention was necessary to complete the abortion process in 81 (8.1%) women. Women with no previous pregnancy (p = 0.02), no previous live birth (p = 0.0001) and gestations 17-21 weeks (p = 0.001) required more prostaglandin. Younger women (p = 0.0001) and women with a previous live birth (p = 0.001) were more likely to have a successful abortion. The induction abortion interval was significantly longer with increasing gestation [95% confidence interval (CI) difference in means: -2.52 to -0.89, p = 0.0001], increasing age (p = 0.0001) and no previous live birth (95% CI difference in means: -0.25 to -1.01, p = 0.0001). Surgical intervention was more likely to be required with increasing age (p = 0.008). Mifepristone in combination with misoprostol is a safe and effective regimen for midtrimester medical abortion with younger women and those with a previous live birth more likely to have a successful abortion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal / administration & dosage*
  • Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal / administration & dosage*
  • Abortion, Induced / methods*
  • Administration, Oral
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mifepristone / administration & dosage*
  • Misoprostol / administration & dosage*
  • Obstetric Surgical Procedures
  • Parity
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Second
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal
  • Abortifacient Agents, Steroidal
  • Misoprostol
  • Mifepristone