[Medical termination of pregnancy with mifepristone--initial experience at the Sheba Medical Center].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the early implementation of medical termination of pregnancy as an alternative treatment option for women in early pregnancy who wish to avoid a surgical procedure.

METHODS

The use of mifepristone (RU-486) for medical termination was recently approved in Israel. We performed a prospective follow-up study of the 189 women who underwent medical termination of pregnancy with mifepristone and misoprostol in our center between January 2000 and April 2001.

RESULTS

Complete outcome data was obtained for 176 women. Within this group 152 women (86.4%) did not need any surgical procedure to complete the abortion. Uterine curettage was performed in 17 (9.6%) and operative hysteroscopy in 7 (4.0%) of the women because of incomplete abortion or suspected residua of pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

Medical abortion offers an efficient and safe treatment option to women who wish to avoid surgical evacuation.