Termination of second-trimester pregnancy with intracervicovaginal misoprostol.

To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of intracervicovaginal misoprostol in termination of second-trimester pregnancy in women with live fetuses. A total of 50 pregnant women between 14 and 27 week's gestation undergoing termination of pregnancy for medical, obstetrical and genetic reasons were recruited to receive 200 ug misoprostol gel administered intracervicovaginally every 12 hours. The rates of successful abortions within 24 hours and 48 hours were 54 per cent and 92 per cent respectively. The mean time from induction to abortion was 27.5 hours. The rate of complete abortion, defined as the passage of the fetus and placenta without operative assistance was 80 per cent. Side effects were fever (8%), nausea and vomiting (6%) and diarrhea (2%). Thirty one patients (62%) required meperidine as analgesia. Two patients (4%) had postpartum hemorrhage. Intracervicovaginal misoprostol is an effective, cheap, safe and relatively convenient method for termination of second-trimester pregnancy with a live fetus.