Efficacy and acceptability of a mifepristone-misoprostol combined regimen for early induced abortion among women in Mexico City

Abstract:

Objective: To evaluate the experience of women receiving mifepristone-misoprostol for early induced abortion in public sector facilities in the Federal District of Mexico City.

Methods: An open-label prospective study was conducted with 1000 pregnant women who sought induced abortion with a pregnancy of up to 63 days of gestation, as measured from the date of their last menstrual period. The study was conducted in three public sector healthcare facilities: two secondary level hospitals and one primary care clinic. Women ingested 200 mg mifepristone on day 1, followed by 800 µg buccal misoprostol 24 hours later, and they returned for follow-up on day 8. The primary outcome was complete abortion without recourse to surgical intervention.

Results: A total of 971 women received mifepristone-misoprostol and were included in the analysis for efficacy of treatment. The overall efficacy of the combined medical abortion regimen studied was 97.3% (n=945); the success rate did not vary significantly by gestational age (95.9%-100%; P=0.449). Most women (n=922, 95.0%) had a successful induced abortion with only one dose of misoprostol.

Conclusion: The combined mifepristone and buccal misoprostol regimen was found to be highly effective and acceptable among Mexican women.

Comment: The medical abortion products mifepristone 200 mg, followed by 800 µg misoprostol after 24 hours, becomes more widely available every month. This is a way to make termination of an unplanned pregnancy safer and more accessable for women worldwide. (HMV)