Preoperative cervical dilatation with a single long-acting prostaglandin analog suppository. An alternative to traumatic mechanical dilatation before surgical evacuation.

A single vaginal suppository containing 1 mg of 15-methyl prostaglandin F2 alpha methyl ester induced cervical dilatation in 60 patients requesting surgical termination of pregnancy. Forty-two percent of the patients required no further dilatation. Even when further dilatation was required, it was performed with considerable ease due to the softening effects of the prostaglandin on the cervix. The use of this agent may be of value in preventing complications resulting from mechanical dilatation of the cervix.