Induction of labor is common in clinical practice. Many different medical and mechanical methods have been used, but the current gold standard is vaginal dinoprostone. Misoprostol has been used for the induction of labor since 1987. In early studies with large misoprostol doses (e.g. 200 mug) there were high rates of uterine hyperstimulation. Cochrane meta-analysis, however, shows that when used in low doses it is as effective as vaginal dinoprostone and with no excess of hyperstimulation. 25 mug vaginal misoprostol 4-hourly, 50 mug oral misoprostol 4-hourly or 20 mug oral misoprostol solution 2-hourly are all safe and effective regimens. Reports of uterine rupture in women with previous cesarean sections mean that it remains contraindicated in this group.
Misoprostol for induction of labor with a live fetus. Publishing Authors By Initials
