NAF 2009 Award Given to Gynuity for Medical Abortion Research

Gynuity staff and local colleagues received the National Abortion Federation award for best scientific paper for the research entitled “Reducing the buccal dose of misoprostol in mifepristone medical abortion up to 63 days’ LMP”.

In-the-mouth routes of misoprostol administration in mifepristone medical abortion have several advantages over vaginal administration and are increasingly becoming the standard in U.S. services. Unlike oral administration (immediately swallowing the tablets), regimens using buccal and sublingual administration have been shown to be effective in terminating pregnancies through 63 days’ LMP. Guidelines from several U.S. service delivery organizations recommend the use of 800mcg buccal misoprostol; however, a lower dose could potentially reduce side effects, simplify administration, and increase women’s satisfaction. Two large randomized studies were conducted looking at a 400mcg dose of buccal misoprostol: Study 1 compared it to 800mcg buccal misoprostol, and Study 2 compared it to 400mcg sublingual misoprostol. The research took place in Tbilisi, Georgia and Chisinau, Moldova.

The results demonstrated that a 400mcg dose of buccal misoprostol is as effective as the standard 800mcg dose in terminating pregnancies up to 63 days’ LMP, and reduces the side effects that women experience. Sublingual administration of 400mcg misoprostol is another highly effective in-the-mouth regimen, although women may experience more side effects than with buccal administration.

Study authors: Erica Chong, M.P.H.; Sheila Raghavan, M.Sc.; Rodica Comendant, M.D., Ph.D.; Tamuna Tsereteli, M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D.; Beverly Winikoff, M.D., M.P.H. Contact echong@gynuity.org for more information.