Once-a-month treatment with a combination of mifepristone and the prostaglandin analogue misoprostol

• Published in: Human reproduction (Oxford) Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 485 - 488
• Main Authors: Swahn, M-L., Bygdeman, M., Jun-kang, Chen, Gemzell-Danielsson, K., Si, Song, Qiu-ying, Yang, Pei-juan, Yang, Mei-ling, Qian, Wei-fang, Chang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01-02-1999
• Subjects: Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal - administration & dosage; Abortifacient Agents, Nonsteroidal - therapeutic use; Abortion, Induced; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Combinations; Female; Genital system. Reproduction; Humans; luteal phase treatment; Luteinizing Hormone - urine; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Menstrual Cycle - drug effects; menstrual regulation; Menstruation-Inducing Agents - administration & dosage; Menstruation-Inducing Agents - therapeutic use; mifepristone; Mifepristone - administration & dosage; Mifepristone - therapeutic use; misoprostol; Misoprostol - administration & dosage; Misoprostol - therapeutic use; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Population; Pregnancy; Prostaglandins - administration & dosage; Prostaglandins - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; luteal phase treatment; menstrual regulation; mifepristone; misoprostol; Human; Drug combination; Luteal phase; Regulation(control); Menstrual cycle; Oral administration; Mifepristone; Drug interaction; Woman; Hemorrhage; Misoprostol; Prostaglandin derivatives; Gonadotropins, Chorionic; Biology; Hormones; Research Methodology; Scandinavia; Prostaglandins, Synthetic; Prostaglandins; Sweden; Clinical Research; China; Research Report; Physiology; Eastern Asia; Hormone Antagonists; Fertility Control, Postcoital; Northern Europe; Europe; Menstrual Regulation; Gonadotropins; Family Planning; Endocrine System; Luteinizing Hormone; Gonadotropins, Pituitary; Developed Countries; Asia; Developing Countries; Ru-486
• ISSN: 0268-1161; 1460-2350
• DOI: 10.1093/humrep/14.2.485

In this two centre study, the efficacy of 200 mg mifepristone orally followed 48 h later by 0.4 mg misoprostol orally for menstrual regulation was investigated. The dose of mifepristone was taken the day before the expected day of menstruation. Each volunteer was planned to participate for up to 6 months. A plasma β human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) was measured on the day of mifepristone intake. The study was disrupted prematurely due to low efficacy. In 125 treatment cycles the overall pregnancy rate was 17.6% (22 pregnancies) and the rate of continuing pregnancies (failure) was 4.0%. Eight women discontinued the study due to bleeding irregularities which were seen in 15 cycles (12%). These effects on bleeding pattern made the timing of treatment day difficult. Late luteal phase treatment with a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol is not adequately effective for menstrual regulation.