Interruption of pregnancy with vaginal suppositories containing 16,16-dimethyl-trans-delta 2-prostaglandin E1 methyl ester.

A new synthesized Prostaglandin E1 analogue, 16,16-dimethyl-trans-delta 2-Prostaglandin E1 methyl ester, has been shown to be effective in termination of 1st and second trimester pregnancy following vaginal administration. Suppositories, each containing 1 mg Prostaglandin E1 derivative, were administered five times to each of fifty pregnant women of five to twenty gestational weeks at three-hourly intervals. The procedure was clinically effective in 86% of the patients resulting in 56% complete and 30% incomplete abortions. The cervix of all patients was dilated up to 7 mm in diameter at the second insertion of the suppository. Vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal pain not requiring sedation were observed in all patients. Diarrhea (42%), vomiting (6%), and fever (4%) were the most common side effects. The Karyopyknotic Index of the vaginal smear increased significantly (p less than 0.01) twelve hours after the initial insertion. The superficial cells of the cervix gradually degenerated during the termination procedure.