Abstract
Summary The effect of a vaginal prostaglandin E2 pessary or an intracervical Foley's catheter on ripening of the cervix before induction of labour was studied prospectively in 66 patients. Both methods of cervical ripening resulted in a significant change in the Bishop score compared to the control group. The induction-delivery interval was markedly shorter in both treated groups compared to the controls. ‘Spontaneous' onset of labour occurred in 64 per cent of the prostaglandin treated group, and in 9 per cent of the intracervical Foley's catheter group. The caesarean section rate was similar in all three groups of patients.

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