Safety, efficacy, and acceptability of medical abortion in China, Cuba and India: A comparative trial of mifepristone-misoprostol versus surgical abortion

Objective: We investigated safety, efficacy, and acceptability of an oral regimen of medical abortion compared with surgical abortion in three developing countries.

Study Design: Women (n = 1373) with amenorrhea ≤56 days chose either surgical abortion (as provided routinely) or 600 mg of mifepristone followed after 48 hours by 400 μg of misoprostol. This is the appropriate design for studying safety, efficacy, and acceptability among women selecting medical abortion over available surgical services.

Results: The medical regimen had more side effects, particularly bleeding, than did surgical abortion but very few serious side effects. Failure rates for medical abortion, although low, exceeded those for surgical abortion: 8.6% versus 0.4% (China), 16.0% versus 4.0% (Cuba), and 5.2% versus 0% (India). Nearly half of failures among medical clients were not true drug failures, however, but surgical interventions not medically necessary (acceptability failures or misdiagnoses). Women were satisfied with either method, but more preferred medical abortion.

Conclusion: Medical abortion can be safe, efficacious, and acceptable in developing countries.