Expert: Shan Yi Sheng - 5/13/2011

Question
QUESTION: Question
Dear Dr. Shan, I am from pakistan and abortion is illegal here. I am married and my baby is 04 months old only. He was born on Dec 29,2010 by C-section. I got preg again. My husband was careless so....my last menses started at 4th april.Now i am 5th week 1 day.
I cannot afford (health wise ) baby now. I plan to take misoprostol 200mcg (04 tab sub,lingually in 03hr intervals, would it work?
regards, shania

ANSWER: Dear shaania,
for the answer of your question look at:
http://www.womenonwaves.org/set-274-en.html

So: better take the 4 tabs at once in your cheek and let them
melt there. After one hous spit out the remaining mass.
do not swallow the tabs.
Bests,
dr Shan

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks dr. shaan, but the link you provided is saying that 4 tab should be put under toungue (sublingually).
1)Is it same to put in cheek or under toungue?
2) They also wrote on link that after 30min swallow the tabs? I am confused.
3) the link says 3 intervals of 4tab each? plz guide, i beliive they are not doctors but you are doctoe so plz guide.
regards, shaania

ANSWER: Dear Shaania,
answers;
1) yes
2)Do not swallow the tablets. Its useless and may give stomach problems.
3) they are doctors, I know tem well. Three intervalls is to make it more sure.
  In my humble opinion its better to try once and see what happens.
  Normally thats enough. If not, you could try another time.
Good luck and
Bye bye for now

Dr Shan

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: dr. sorry to bother you agian, tonight i am planning to take miso...
i want to reconfirm that

1) If after 1st dose of 4 tablets, i get bleeding i dont need to take next dose?
2) I am MS mathematics, so i want to know that what are percentage chances that
a) %age chances I dont get any blood?
b) %age chances I get bleed but abortion is not complete ?
c) %age chances I get complete abortion?
d) How much time on avergae it takes to bleeding start after 1st dose?
many many thanks,
regards,

Answer
Hi there,I am not the whole day at the computer waiting for questions, so sorry for being late.
at arithmatics:
1) That depends on the question if the products (embryo) is expelled or not.
    Look carefully  at the pads if you see some embryonic sac in the bloodclots. If in doubt put it in water, and than ypu
    may recognize easier.
    If you are not sure, take 4 tabs more.
2)
a) this is personal and depends on many factors
b) about 5-10 %
c)  90 to 95 %
d)  see a), but normally between 1 and 6 hours

Sorry, but nature does not work with exact percentages.
goo dluck,
dr Shan