Sublingual misoprostol versus oral and vaginal misoprostol in
inducing mid-trimester medical abortion
S.M. Bunescu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University ‘V.Goldis’
Arad, Romania Clinic Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, ‘Salvator Vuia’
Arad, Romania
Introduction: The new route of sublingual administration
of misoprostol was used by 34 -women requesting mid-trimester termination of
pregnancy because of various medical reasons. The efficiency and acceptability
of this regimen were studied versus those obtained by the use of oral and
vaginal misoprostol.
Aims and Methods: The women were given 200 microg.
misoprostol sublingually followed by 100 microg. every 1h until delivery. The
abortion rate and the median induction-to-abortion interval were compared with
those obtained by using oral misoprostol (200 microg. every 1h until delivery),
vaginal misoprostol (200 microg.), endocervico-vaginally administrated
misoprostol (200 microg.vaginally and 200 microg.endocervically).
Results: The overall abortion rate was 100% within 24h
and the median induction-to-abortion interval was 10,5h (range 7– 16,5). The
side effects were represented by pelvic pain and in a few cases by fever and
chills. Comparing these results with those obtained by oral, vaginal and
endocervico-vaginally administrated misoprostol we can observe a greater rate of
abortion within 24h and a smaller median induction-to abortion interval in the
sublingually regimen. The acceptability of the sublingually administrated
misoprostol was good, 96,5%of the women would choose this method again because
it is convenient to take, it avoids the painful vaginal administration and gives
more privacy during the abortion process.
Conclusions: This regimen of sublingual misoprostol is an
effective and acceptable method of medical mid-trimester abortion.
