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| Research article summary (published 28 Mar 2000): |
Medical termination of pregnancy.
Full Abstract
This review focuses on advances in the medical termination of pregnancy during the early period of the first trimester, when most abortions are performed. The drugs are used to terminate pregnancy act by inhibiting the synthesis of progesterone, inducing myometrial contractions, antagonizing the action of progesterone, or inhibiting trophoblast development. Among the drugs used in medical abortion are epostane, prostaglandins (including misoprostol and gameprost), combined methotrexate and misoprostol, tamoxifen-misoprostol regimen, mifepristone and prostaglandin, and antiprogestin and prostaglandins. The efficacy, side effects, and contraindications of these drugs in the medical termination of pregnancy are discussed. In general, medical abortion is associated with higher rates of prolonged bleeding, nausea, vomiting, and pain as compared to surgical abortion. However, medical termination of pregnancy has a high rate of efficacy in women with early pregnancies. In addition, medical abortion is safe and acceptable to women, and it does not require anesthesia. Lastly, women who choose medical abortion must have access to a center where suction curettage is available, should heavy bleeding occur and blood transfusion is required.
Author information
Author/s: Christin-Maitre, S (S); Bouchard, P (P); Spitz, I M (IM);
Affiliation: Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Service d'Endocrinologie, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, France.
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article; Review
Journal: The New England journal of medicine (N Engl J Med), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2000-Mar; vol 342 (issue 13) : pp 946-56
Dates: Created 2000/03/30; Completed 2000/03/30; Revised 2005/11/16;
PMID: 10738054, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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