Prospective study of medical abortion in Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital (NMCTH). A one year experience

A combination of antiprogesterone mifepristone and prostaglandin analogue misoprostol provides an effective non surgical method for termination of pregnancy up to gestational age of 63 days. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of this medical regimen for termination of pregnancy up to 63 days of pregnancy. A hospital based prospective study was carried out in department of obstetrics and gynecology at Nepal Medical College Teaching Hospital (NMCTH) for a period of one year where 100 women requesting for medical abortion were enrolled. The medical regimen used was mifepristone 200 mg orally followed 24 hours later by misoprostol 800 micrograms administered buccally. Most of the women were in age group 20-29 years (50%), were nulliparous (81%) and were within 42 days of pregnancy (47%). The overall success rate of this regimen was 93.6%. Where success was defined as achieving complete abortion without needing surgical evacuation. Surgical evacuation was needed in 6 (6.4%) patients i.e. 5 for incomplete abortion and one for continued viable pregnancy. The combination of oral mifepristone 200mg followed 24 hours later by buccal misoprostol 800mcg is effective method of medical termination of pregnancy.