[Large variation in clinical regimens use to induce medical abortion in Denmark]

Medical abortion was introduced in Denmark in 1997. The purpose of the present study was to describe the use of medical abortion and the applied regimens.

Late 2000, questionnaires were sent to all gynecological and surgical departments in Denmark performing abortions.

Late 2000, medical abortion was performed in 25 of the approximately 50 departments performing abortion. In the majority of cases the method was introduced during 1999 and the estimated frequency of medical termination was 25% of all first trimester abortions in the departments offering the method. All departments used a combination of mifepristone and either misoprostol or gemeprost. Doses and administration, upper gestational limit, and follow-up procedures showed great variation between the departments. Medical abortion was in general considered an equal but more expensive method than surgical termination.

The literature describes many different ways to induce medical abortion, but only parts of the regimens have been evaluated in randomised controlled trials and the results are difficult to transfer directly to Danish conditions. The variation in regimens used in Denmark reflects the lack of consensus on an optimal procedure. We look forward to the national guidelines in the area, which will enable us to compare and optimise the procedure more easily.