Outpatient cervical ripening with prostaglandin E2 and estradiol

To determine whether weekly outpatient administration of prostaglandin gel or estrogen cream initiated labor in women with an unfavorable cervix.

All uncomplicated pregnancies at term gestation who were candidates for a vaginal delivery with a Bishop score of < or = 6 were randomly assigned to receive on a weekly basis: prostaglandin E2 gel (n = 41); estrogen cream (n = 44); or inert lubricant jelly (n = 43).

In the three groups no differences were observed among 128 subjects in the weekly Bishop scores, cervical dilatation or gestational age upon admission to the labor and delivery suite, the percentage of patients presenting with spontaneous labor or ruptured membranes, the number of post-date inductions or neonatal outcome.

Weekly out-patient cervical ripening using either prostaglandin gel or estrogen in women with an unfavorable cervix at 37 weeks' gestation was no more effective than a placebo in Bishop score improvement or in preventing post-date inductions.