Outpatient postconceptional fertility control with vaginally administered 15(S) 15-methyl-PGF2alpha-methyl ester

15(S) 15-methyl-PGF2alpha-methyl ester was administered as vaginal suppositories to terminate very early gestation in 16 outpatients who were thought to be pregnant. All patients received between 2.5 and 5.0 mg. of the prostaglandin compound. Pregnancy was confirmed later in 10 of the women. In these patients vaginal bleeding started 3 to 6 hours after the start of therapy and continued for an average of 8 days. By subjective assessment, the amount of bleeding during this time was equal to or slightly heavier than that of a normal menstruation for each woman. Patients were followed for 2 to 4 weeks with serial measurements of serum progesterone and HCG. There were no failures at early pregnancy interruption. Gastrointestinal side effects rarely were encountered; no serious complications occurred and no curettage had to be performed because of heavy bleeding. The vaginal use of the methyl ester of 15(S) 15-methyl-PGF2alpha for the termination of early pregnancy seems promising as a reliable and parctical outpatient procedure.