354 women seeking abortions were treated at a hospital in Paris between February-September 1988 with 600 mg of RU 486 taken orally in 1 dose and an injection of 500 mg sulprostone 48 hours later. The women all had amenorrhea of less than 49 days. 1/3 were 18-25 years old, 1/2 were 25-35, and 16% were over 35. 206 were nulliparas. 110 were married and the rest were separated, widowed, divorced, or single. Sulprostone was injected early in the morning in the hospital and the women were discharged after expulsion of the products of conception, which occurred usually 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours later. If expulsion did not occur, the woman returned in 3 days for a sonogram to confirm uterine vacuity. 13 of the 354 women had RU 486 only. 2 refused the sulprostone and underwent aspiration and 11 experienced spontaneous expulsions in the 48 hours following RU 486 administration. 338 of the women had spontaneous expulsions. 2 pregnancies were terminated but not expelled and aspiration was required. 285 of the women expelled in the hospital within 4 hours of sulprostone administration and the other 55 did so at home 6 or more hours later. RU 486 was very well tolerated. Secondary effects were more common with sulprostone but generally subsided within 3 hours. 70 patients required treatment for uterine pain after sulprostone administration. 150 complained of nausea but only 6 required treatment. 5 women required aspiration of curettage for hemorrhage but none required transfusion. In 3 cases the hemorrhages were due to histologically proven retention. 1 patient developed endometritis 3 days after expulsion and another, who had a history of extrauterine pregnancy, developed salpingitis 15 days after expulsion. Both patients were treated with antibiotics. The method appears to be safe and effective. Its major disadvantages are that it prolongs the amount of time required for abortion and it frequently causes pelvic pain. The responsibility of the patient is also increased.