Misoprostol and termination of pregnancy: is there a need for ultrasound screening in a general population to assess the risk for adverse outcome in cases of uterine anomaly?

PURPOSE AND METHODS

We reviewed the existing literature on medical termination of pregnancy in cases of congenital uterine malformation. Is medical termination of pregnancy safe in the presence of a uterine anomaly? Can termination of pregnancy still be performed when information concerning the presence of congenital uterine malformation is not available?

RESULTS

The risk of adverse outcome, i.e. uterine rupture, was high in class 2 uterine anomalies, whereas the risks in classes 3-6 were negligible. However, the very low incidence of class 2 anomalies in pregnant women results in a calculated risk of uterine rupture in medical termination of pregnancy on the basis of this anomaly of 1 in 300,000 pregnancies. Ultrasound scanning is of limited diagnostic value to diagnose congenital uterine malformations.

CONCLUSIONS

The implications of uterine anomalies are not an argument in the discussion whether to use misoprostol for termination of pregnancy in developing countries with scarce diagnostics tools.