Acupuncture for the induction of cervical dilatation in preparation for first-trimester abortion and its influence on HCG.

Cervical dilatation in preparation for first-trimester abortion using acupuncture at loci SP6 and LI4 was studied in 20 patients, who were compared to a control group in whom no preparation was used. Ninety percent of the patients had successful acupuncture procedures. As judged by Hegar dilators, the increase in cervical dilatation in those 18 patients was significantly greater than in the controls. No significant side effects were observed. The effect of acupuncture on serum human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) as a pregnancy marker was evaluated in 12 patients. No statistically significant difference in the change in HCG was noted in terms of the controls, indicating an absence of abortifacient activity with acupuncture.