Medical treatment of miscarriage in a district general hospital is safe and effective up to 12 weeks' gestation.

The findings are reported of a retrospective study of 207 women undergoing medical evacuation of the uterus for first trimester miscarriage, using mifepristone followed by a single dose of oral misoprostol. All women had the diagnosis confirmed by ultrasonography. Complete medical evacuation was achieved in 88% of cases. The success rate and incidence of complications was observed to be the same regardless of whether gestation was below or above 9 weeks. The number of cases in which antibiotic treatment for presumed pelvic infection was prescribed was 3%. The incidence of anaemia requiring blood transfusion was 3%.