Intravaginal misoprostol for termination of second trimester pregnancy

OBJECTIVE(S) : To find out the efficacy and safety of intravaginal misoprostol insertion for second trimester termination of pregnancy METHOD(S) : One hundred and forty cases of second trimester termination of pregnancy done from September 2001 to August 2004 using intravaginal misoprostol 600 mu g followed by 400 mu g every 4 hourly till abortion or a maximum of 2600 mu g over 24 hours were analyzed. RESULTS : A majority of the women was married, the mean gestational age was 26.42 years, and the mean gravidity 2.96 +/- 1.56. The success rate was 99.26%. The mean induction abortion interval was 12.27 +/- 5.71 hours. However, it was more in primigravidas as compared to that in multigravidas. The mean dose of misoprostol required was 1638.57 +/- 322.67 mu g. The side effects observed were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever. CONCLUSION(S) : Intravaginal misoprostol is a safe, effective, cheap and acceptable method for second trimester termination of pregnancy.