Preoperative cervical dilatation with 15(S)15-methyl PGF2alpha methyl ester pessaries.

A clinical trial comparing two vaginal dose schedules of 15(S)15-methyl prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) methyl ester (4 or 6 mg) for preoperative dilatation of the cervix is described. The trial included 28 patients at 8-12 weeks' gestation. Vaginal pessaries containing either 1.0 mg (15 patients) or 1.5 mg (13 patients) of the prostaglandin analogue were administered every 3 hours (maximum, 4 doses). The success rates for the two groups were 93% and 100%, respectively. Sixty percent of the patients aborted before the planned vacuum aspiration. Minor side effects, primarily vomiting and diarrhea, occurred in approximately 80% of the cases and were more prominent with the higher dose pessary. It is concluded that the vaginal administration of 15(S)15-methyl PGF2alpha methyl ester is highly effective for preoperative dilatation of the cervix before suction curettage abortion.