USA: Bleeding after medical abortion

This study examined bleeding pattern following medication-induced termination of pregnancy, comparing two different dosing schedules of mifepristone and misoprostol.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University School of Medicine, MA: Diary information was analyzed from a randomized, multicenter trial in which women used vaginal misoprostol 800 mug either 6-8 or 24 h following 200 mg of oral mifepristone. One thousand and eighty women with pregnancies up to 63 days’ gestation were recruited for the study; 540 were randomised to the 6- to 8-h dosing schedule, and 540 were randomized to the 24-h dosing schedule. Subjects recorded daily bleeding in a diary over 5 weeks.

Total duration of bleeding ranged from 1 to 54 days, with a median of 7 days. Duration of spotting ranged from 1 to 80 days, with a median of 5 and 6 days in each of the two groups. Neither duration of bleeding nor duration of spotting were related to interval between mifepristone and misoprostol. Bleeding and spotting durations were not correlated with maternal age or smoking. Increased gestational age was correlated with longer bleeding and spotting times. Nulliparity was associated with longer bleeding time. The authors concluded that varying the interval between mifepristone and misoprostol in medication abortion does not affect duration or quantity of bleeding.

Bleeding after medication-induced termination of pregnancy with two dosing schedules of mifepristone and misoprostol. Chen AY, Mottl-Santiago J, Vragovic O, Wasserman S, Borgatta L. Contraception. 2006 Apr;73(4):415-9.