Oral prostaglandins in the induction of labour

Prostaglandins E(2) and F(2)alpha were administered by mouth to induce labour in 24 patients at or past term. The drugs were administered at two-hourly intervals in doses ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 mg for prostaglandin E(2) and from 5 to 15 mg for prostaglandin F(2)alpha. Of the 10 cases in which prostaglandin E(2) was used, labour was successfully induced in eight and there were no side effects. With prostaglandin F(2)alpha labour was induced in 12 of 14 patients nine of whom had gastrointestinal disturbance, mostly of mild degree. With both drugs the infant was apparently unaffected and Apgar scores were satisfactory. Uterine hypertonus was not observed and the postpartum blood loss was within normal limits.