Outpatient Cervical Ripening With Misoprostol to Prevent Post-Term Pregnancy: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Outpatient use of misoprostol is assessed in a few studies and usually in low doses and vaginal routes. This study aimed to evaluate cervical ripening by outpatient administration of misoprostol to prevent post-term pregnancy. This randomized clinical trial study was performed on 140 patients that were randomly allocated into two groups: 25 μg sublingual SL (group A) and 50 μg PO misoprostol (group B). The patients were primigravid with a gestational age of 40 weeks, with an amniotic fluid index (AFI) of ≥5 cm, a reactive non-stress test (NST) with no evident uterine contraction, Bishop Score of 0.05). Outpatient cervical ripening with misoprostol appears to be an optimal method. More prospective studies with higher sample sizes are required to ensure its safety for routine recommendations for cervical ripening to prevent post-term pregnancy.

Keywords

• Outpatient
• Cervical ripening
• Misoprostol
• Post-term pregnancy