Is oxytocin given during surgical termination of first trimester pregnancy useful? A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the impact of 5 IU (international units) of oxytocin administered during surgical termination of first-trimester pregnancy compared to no oxytocin, on postoperative bleeding, pain and nausea.

Design: A randomized controlled single-blinded study.

Setting: A Norwegian community hospital with 1,064 consecutive legal abortions in the 20 months of study period.