Abortifacient action of orally administered 16, 16 dimethyl prostaglandin E2 and its methyl ester

16, 16 dimethyl Prostaglandin E₂ (Free acid and methyl ester) administered orally have a stimulant effect on the pregnant human uterus. Pregnancy was terminated in twelve out of twenty women by two hourly oral doses of 100μg of these analogues The relatively high incidence of gastrointestinal side effects — nausea, vomitting and diarrhoea — would tend to limit the usefulness of orally administered 16, 16 dimethyl PGE₂ and its methyl ester as abortifacients.