A Comparison of Three Dosages of Prostaglandin E2Pessaries for Ripening the Unfavourable Cervix Prior to Induction of Labor

Abstract

The effect of Prostaglandin [PG]E2 pessaries in 3 different dosages in ripening the unfavorable cervix prior to the induction of labor was evaluated. A single dose of PGE2 as pessary in the 3 different dosages was administered into the posterior vaginal fornix to ripen an unfavorable cervix with a Bishop score .ltoreq. 4 in 101 primigravid and 79 multigravid patients. The pessary containing 2 mg was as effective as 3 mg and 5 mg PGE2 pessary in ripening the cervix, and the outcome of labor and fetal status were similar with the different dosages of PGE2. However, 2 multigravid patients who received 5 mg of PGE pessary and 1 multigravid patient who received 3 mg of PGE2 pessary developed hypertonic uterine activity. None of the patients who received 2 mg PGE2 pessary developed any adverse effect on uterine activity.