Effect of vaginal misoprostol application for cervical softening in pregnancy interruption before ten weeks of gestation

Objective. To determine the effect of vaginal misoprostol application for cervical dilatation and to determine the time taken for pregnancy interruption. Methods. 200 mu g misoprostol and gyno-flor vaginal tablet, employed to create acidic milieu, were applied into the posterior fornix of 40 women with gestational age of 5 to 10 weeks. Placebo was applied vaginally to 20 women who made up the control group. All cases were examined 5 hours later. The cervical dilatation, presence of fetoplacental material in the vagina, extrauterine cervical bleeding and the time necessary for dilatation and suction curettage were investigated. Results. In 33 (82.5 %) of the cases cervical bleeding, in 21 (52.5 %) of the cases fetoplacental material on the cervix and/or in the vagina were detected in women of misoprostol group, while neither cervical bleeding nor fetoplacental material on the cervix and/or in the vagina was detected in the placebo group. In the misoprostol. group the time taken for the operation was significantly (p<0.005) shorter than that of the control group. Conclusion. Vaginal application of misoprostol shortens the time needed for the termination of the gestation by its facilitating effect on cervical dilatation.