Intracervical prostaglandin E2, 0-5 mg; gel or tablet for cervical ripening and induction of labour with an unfavourable cervix?

SummaryThe efficacy of prostaglandin E2, 0-5 mg, administered intracervically as a single dose to ripen the cervix and to induce labour in the presence of an unfavourable cervix was compared using gel and tablet forms in a total of 52 women, with random allocation.Neither preparation was found to be very effective in ripening the cervix and inducing labour alone. Generally, the gel group faired worse. Twenty seven per cent of those having the gel had failed inductions and 4 per cent of those having the tablet. Only 12 per cent of women having the gel and 4 per cent having the tablet achieved delivery without further augmentation. Eighty-three per cent of the women having the gel and 50 per cent having the tablet had an episiotomy.