Publication:

Sublingual versus vaginal misoprostol for medical termination of pregnancy: a comparative study

Background Medical  abortion  with  a  combination  of  mifepristone  and  a  prostaglandin  analogue, as  an  alternative  to  surgical  abortion  in  early  pregnancy.

Methods This randomized comparative study was conducted for 60 women with pregnancy up to 20 weeks period of gestation after getting approval from the institutional ethics committee and informed consent from the patient. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on computer generated random number. Patients in one group had received 200mg mifepristone orally and after 24 hours 400 mcg of misoprostol sublingually after admission in to labour ward. Dose was repeated every 6 hours up to maximum of 5 doses. Patients in other group had received 200mg mifepristone orally and after 24 hours 400 mcg of misoprostol vaginally after admission in to labour ward. Dose was repeated every 6 hours up to maximum of 5 doses.

Results The maternal age distribution, parity and gestational age in the two groups were found to be comparable. Requirement of mean dose of misoprostol in sublingual and vaginal were 1300 mcg, 1253 mcg respectively. The mean induction and abortion interval was 15.31±7.9 and 15.41±7.8 hours in sublingual and vaginal respectively. The complete abortion rate was 80% and 83.3% in sublingual and vaginal groups. The rates of side effects were similar in both groups respectively.

Conclusions There is no significant difference in efficacy and side effects between sublingual and vaginal route of misoprostol for termination of pregnancy.