Mifepristone and prostaglandin for termination of pregnancy: contraindications for use, reasons and rationale

Drug therapies are usually contraindicated in specific patient populations where evidence suggests that administration may result in a serious reaction or may seriously and negatively alter the risk benefit of treatment. There are few absolute contraindications to licensed regimens of mifepristone and prostaglandin for termination of pregnancy. However, those that are specified on “summary of product characteristics” [product labeling (PL)] differ from country to country. Differences reflect the dynamic environment of emerging scientific evidence, local experience and guidelines, and local regulatory processes, which all influence the resultant PL.The reasons and rationale for specific contraindications for mifepristone and prostaglandin for the termination of pregnancy are detailed, and the reasons for the differences between PL in different countries are explained.