Assessment of factors constituting an "inducibility profile"

A survey of 440 patients examined vaginally during the last month of pregnancy showed a correlation between quantitative assessment of the pelvic score features described by Bishop and the duration of induced labor. Cervical dilatation was as useful as the total Bishop score in this respect. Cervical dilatation and station of the head together were especially predictive for long labor and these two factors together with length of cervix were especially predictive for shorter labors. It was also apparent from this study that previous cervical surgery or vaginal termination of pregnancy was associated with a lower incidence of low Bishop scores. The changes in individual components of the Bishop score during the last month of pregnancy are described.