India: A comparison of two regimens of misoprostol for second trimester medical abortion

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and side-effects of two regimens of vaginal misoprostol for second trimester voluntary medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) according to the MTP Act of India. From Tropical Doctor.

A randomised trial was conducted in 185 women from January 2007 to September 2008.

Women in group 1 were given vaginal misoprostol 400 microg every 6 h for a maximum of four doses. Women in group 2 were given vaginal misoprostol 400 microg every 12 h for a maximum of four doses. The primary outcome measure was induction abortion interval. Secondary outcome measures were success rate, side-effects and completeness of procedure.

Results were calculated applying Fisher’s exact test, chi-square test, Z test and calculating the P value using an alpha level of 0.05 for Type I error. The mean induction abortion interval in group 1 (12.59 h) was significantly shorter (P < 0.001) than that in the group 2 (16.41 h). The percentage of women who achieved successful abortion within 12 h in group 1 (56.52%) was also significantly higher (P = 0.00005) than that in group 2 (25.80%). The incidence of side-effects was comparable and not clinically serious.

The authors concluded that the regimen of vaginal misoprostol 400 microg every 6 h was more effective than the regimen of misoprostol every 12 h in medical termination of second trimester pregnancy.

Department of Gynaecology & Obstetrics, NRS Medical College, Kolkata, 138 AJC Bose Road, Kolkata-700014, West Bengal, India.

A comparison of two regimens of misoprostol for second trimester medical termination of pregnancy: a randomized trial. Chaudhuri S, Banerjee PK, Mundle M, Mitra SN. Tropical Doctor. 2010 Jul;40(3):144-8.