To compare the efficacy of misoprostol administered sublingually or orally for uterine evacuation after early pregnancy failure. Forty-eight hours after receiving 200 mg of mifepristone orally, 100 women were randomized to receive misoprostol sublingually or orally. The evacuation rates were 92% in the sublingual and 84% in the oral administration group; the mean+/-SD induction-to-evacuation intervals were 5.6+/-4.54 hours and 9.44+/-5.61 hours, this difference being significant; and the adverse effects were similar in the 2 groups. The sublingual route was found to be as effective but faster than the oral route for uterine evacuation after early pregnancy failure.