Outpatient cervical ripening using a sustained-release prostaglandin E2 vaginal insert

This clinical trial was undertaken to determine whether a sustained-release prostaglandin E2 vaginal insert could be used for outpatient cervical ripening. A total of 111 patients, with primarily pregnancy-induced hypertension or postdatism, were administered the insert in a simulated outpatient setting. The high rates of regular contractions (23.4%) and of removal of the insert before < 12 hours (27.9%) make its use undesirable outside a hospital.