Termination of mid-trimester pregnancy with intramuscular 15-(S)-15-,methyl-prostaglandin F2 alpha

Termination of mid-trimester pregnancy was successfully achieved in 30 patients with 15-(S)-15-methyl-PGF 2 alpha administered by repeated intramuscular injections. All patients aborted within 48 hours and the majority (73%) aborted within 24 hours. The mean induction-abortion interval was 19 affected by parity but was marginally shorter in patients at an earlier stage of gestation. The average total dosage of 15-methyl-PGF 2 alpha was 2075 micrograms (or 8,3 injections) per patient. Vomiting (93,9%) and diarrhoea (73,3%) were the only troublesome side-effects but they were not severe and were well tolerated by the patients. The incidence of vomiting was reduced with prophylactic drugs.