Early medical abortion: a new regimen up to 49 days' gestation

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate a new regimen of mifepristone and misoprostol in early medical abortion up to 49 days of amenorrhoea.

Methods: One hundred healthy women requesting pregnancy termination up to 49 days gestation received 200 mg mifepristone followed by 800 microg misoprostol orally 24 h later. Statistical analysis was carried out by unpaired t-test.

Results: Ninety-six percent of patients aborted completely 4.3 h after they were given misoprostol. No significant side-effects were noted. The duration of bleeding correlated with gestational age (P-value 0.009).

Conclusion: This new regimen of mifepristone-misoprostol is effective in terminating early pregnancy, with shorter induction to abortion interval and greater acceptability.