Sulprostone, a new synthetic prostaglandin E2 derivative, was used for interruption of pregnancy in 479 patients with different lengths of pregnancy. Systemic forms of administration (i.v. and i.m.) were superior to non-systemic ones (intraamnial, extraamnial). In comparison with prostaglandins used up to now this substance is characterised by a higher rate of success and clearly reduced systemic side effects. As a consequence of these results a new clinical concept of artificial abortion with prostaglandins using sulprostone is presented: 1. i.m. application for induction of early abortion before the 6th week of pregnancy and for softening of the cervix up to the 12th week of pregnancy. 2. i.v. drip of termination of intact and disturbed pregnancies beyond the first trimenon.