Midtrimester termination of pregnancy using intravaginal gemeprost (16, 16 dimethyl-trans delta 2 PGE1 methyl ester, cervagem).

The efficacy of a new prostaglandin E, analogue, gemeprost (cervagem) for mid -trimester termination of pregnancy was assessed. Mid -trimester abortion was successfully induced in 32 out of 42 women with normal pregnancies within 48 hours by vaginal administration of 1 mg gemeprost pessary every 3 hours up to a maximum of five pessaries. 23 patients were nulliparous and 19 were multiparous (mean parity of 1.0). Their ages ranged from 16 to 43 years (mean of 24.7 years) and the gestation 12 to 22 weeks (mean of 16.4 weeks). 16 patients aborted within 12 hours (38.1%), 28 within 24 hours (66.7%), 31 within 36 hours (73.8%) and 32 within 48 hours (76.2%) (Total success rate). The mean induction -abortion interval was 14.4 hours and the mean dose 4.0 mg. Blood loss and side effects were minimal and the only significant complication was the occurrence of cervical tears in 2 patients which were repaired successfully at the time of currettage. Gemeprost appears to be an effective drug that can be administered by a non-invasive route for the terminations of mid trimester pregnancy.