Termination of pregnancy has been practiced since antiquity.Although many societies accept this practice, some reject it,and it is sometimes even considered a crime. The most widelyused methods for terminating pregnancy early in the first trimesterare surgical, primarily vacuum aspiration, which is safer andless painful than dilation and curettage. An estimated 26 millionpregnancies are terminated legally each year throughout theworld, and 20 million are terminated illegally, with more than78,000 deaths.1 A safe medical method would save many lives.
In the United States, where abortion is legal and is performedby trained personnel, the . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Physiologic Actions of Drugs Inducing Abortion
Inhibition of Progesterone Synthesis
Induction of Myometrial Contractions
Antagonism of the Action of Progesterone
Inhibition of Trophoblast Development
Use of Drugs to Terminate Pregnancy
Epostane
Prostaglandins
Efficacy
Side Effects
Methotrexate and Prostaglandins
Efficacy
Side Effects
Tamoxifen and Prostaglandins
Antiprogestins and Prostaglandins
Efficacy
Side Effects
Contraindications to Medical Termination of Pregnancy
Acceptability, Approval, and Availability
Conclusions
Source Information
From the Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Service d'Endocrinologie, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris (S.C.-M., P.B.); and the Center for Biomedical Research, the Population Council, and the Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York (I.M.S.).
Address reprint requests to Dr. Bouchard at Service d'Endocrinologie, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, 184 rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75571 Paris CEDEX 12, France.
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