The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

Success and Need for Curettage in Outpatient and Inpatient Treatment of First Trimester Abortions with Misoprostol

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Atiyeh Vatanchi 1
Leila Pourali 1
Niloufar Sadeghi 2
Sedighe Ayati 3
Saeed Akhlaghi 4
1 Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Family and Youth Support Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2 General Physician, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
3 Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Family and Youth Support Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
4 Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
10.22038/ijogi.2025.76172.5913
Abstract
Introduction: The use of misoprostol tablet is a common method for the medical treatment of abortion. The present study was conducted with aim to compare success and need for curettage in outpatient and inpatient treatment of first trimester abortions with misoprostol.
Methods: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 142 pregnant women with diagnosis of miscarriage ≤14 weeks referred to Qaem Hospital in Mashhad from 2018 to 2020. The patients were divided into two groups of inpatient and outpatient. In both groups, 800 µg of vaginal and sublingual misoprostol were administered with the same dose and repeated if needed at similar intervals. The rate of complete elimination and the need for curettage were compared in two groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software (version 19). P<0.05 was considered significant.
Results: There was no significant difference in the percentage of curettage between the two groups (p=0.813). In terms of complications, fever (p=0.016), chills (p<0.001), and nausea and vomiting (p=0.049) were significantly higher in the outpatient group, but the rate of diarrhea was not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.722).
Conclusion: Termination of pregnancy in first trimester abortions using vaginal and sublingual misoprostol as an outpatient is a safe and effective method. This procedure requires no hospitalization and high hospital costs, and all procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis and can be a good alternative to inpatient method.
Keywords
Abortion
Curettage
First Trimester of Pregnancy
Inpatient
Misoprostol
Outpatient
Subjects
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The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Volume 28, Issue 5
July 2025
Pages 9-18