Termination of late first-trimester and early second-trimester gestations with intramuscular 15 (S)-15-methyl-prostaglandin F2alpha.

15 (S)-15-methyl-prostaglandin F2alpha (15 methyl PGF2alpha) was administered intramuscularly to 222 healthy women seeking abortion of gestations between eight and 22 weeks. Ninety-seven per-cent of these pregnancies were terminated with a mean time to abortion of 16.5 (SD 6.78) hours. Gastrointestinal side effects occurred in more than 90% of the patients while temperature elevations greater than 100.6 degrees F were noted in 22% of cases. No other significant complications were encountered. Transabdominal intra-amniotic pressure monitoring indicated the need to administer drug at two-hour intervals.