Misoprostol for Medication Abortion

Misoprostol is an inexpensive medication with clinical indications ranging from gastrointestinal to gynecologic. Given that abortion services are becoming increasingly difficult to access, researchers conducted a meta-analysis of data from 42 studies on the safety and efficacy of misoprostol alone for medication abortion.

Among some 13,000 women who used misoprostol without mifepristone to induce abortion, <1% required transfusion or hospitalization. Ongoing pregnancy was rare (7%); however, 22% of women underwent surgical evacuation to empty the uterus. Women were less likely to require such a procedure if misoprostol was administered vaginally or buccally instead of orally, if vaginal tablets were moistened prior to use, and if the initial…