Preabortion cervical dilatation with a low-dose prostaglandin suppository. A comparison of two analogs

Vaginal administration of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha suppositories resulted in cervical changes that facilitated suction curettage termination of 46 first-trimester pregnancies. When 30 mg of 9-deoxo-16,16-dimethyl-9 methylene PGE2 was compared with 0.5 mg of 15(S)-methyl PGF2 alpha suppositories, the cervix-ripening properties of these two agents appeared to be equivalent. Within one to two hours of insertion, a mean dilatation increase of 3.3 and 3.1 mm was achieved for the PGE2 and PGF2 alpha groups, respectively, increasing the ease of suction abortion. Blood loss and gastrointestinal side effects were minimal for both groups. The rapid effectiveness of these suppositories for cervical priming permits a one-day hospital stay for abortion and may minimize long-term sequelae associated with forceful mechanical dilatation of the cervix.