Methotrexate and misoprostol for early abortion: a multicenter trial. Acceptability

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Medical abortion offers an alternative to surgical procedures for elective termination.
• Understanding patient preferences and experiences is crucial for evaluating abortion methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the acceptability and patient experience of medical abortion using methotrexate and misoprostol.
• To determine women's preferences for medical versus surgical abortion.

Main Methods:

• Prospective trial involving 300 pregnant women up to 56 days gestation.
• Administered intramuscular methotrexate followed by vaginal misoprostol.
• Assessed patient experiences and preferences through open-ended questionnaires.

Main Results:

• Avoiding surgery was the primary reason for choosing medical abortion for 48.4% of participants.
• 73.4% of women reported a positive experience with medical abortion.
• 83.5% would opt for medical abortion again over surgical methods.

Conclusions:

• Intramuscular methotrexate and vaginal misoprostol are an acceptable and desirable method for early abortion.
• Patient satisfaction is high, with a strong preference for this medical approach.