Could misoprostol induce changes to the vaginal environment?
Insertion of misoprostol certainly changes the vaginal pH and also induces cervical changes. Each of these changes could be a risk factor for infection. However, there is currently no scientific evidence or causal mechanism by which these changes would predispose women undergoing medical abortion to C. sordellii infection specifically. Further, vaginal misoprostol is commonly used for induction of labor and before surgical abortion to ripen the cervix. No similar infections have been reported following those procedures, although the vaginal environment and flora in post partum women is different than in pre- and post-abortal women.
