Abstract: Background: Second-trimester abortion is an important component of women’s health care, and women seek termination later in pregnancy for a variety of medical and social reasons. The present study was conducted to assess effectiveness of sublingual and vaginal misoprostol for second-trimester abortion.
Materials & Methods: 92 second-trimester medical termination of pregnancy cases were divided into two groups equally: group I was given a starting dose of 400 mcg of misoprostol sublingual, and group II (n = 120) was given 400 mcg of misoprostol vaginally and a dose of 400 mcg repeated at 4-h interval in 24 hours.
Results: The mean gestational age in group I was 16.5 weeks and in group II was 16.4 weeks. Maternal age was 24.3 years and 24.1 years, BMI was 24.1 Kg/m2 and 24.4, parity was 0 in 24 and 26, 1 in 10 and 8, 2 in 8 and 7 and >2 in 4 and 5 in group I and II respectively. The difference was non- significant (P> 0.05). The success rate was seen in 38 in group I and 35 in group II. Side effects was fever and chills seen in 23 in group I and 22 in group II, nausea/vomiting in 18 in group I and 17 in group II, pain abdomen 9 in group I and 10 in group II and vaginal bleeding 5 each. The difference was non- significant (P> 0.05).
Conclusion: Authors found that sublingual route is a better option in second-trimester abortion.