A Study on the Effect of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate on So-Called Cervical Ripening

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Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS) is now used for a dynamic test of placental function by many obstetricians. DHAS markedly promoted so-called cervical ripening. To study this problem, DHAS of 50 or 100 mg in multiple doses were injected into 132 Japanese pregnant women in their 38th-42nd wk of gestation. The change in Bishop score was carefully recorded. Bishop score in the injected groups of primiparae (100 mg) began to rise much sooner than the control groups (P < 0.01 on 7th day and 14th day). However, such significant difference in the rise of Bishop score was not noted in the multiparae and primiparae with 50 mg. Although the rise of score is not significant, the duration (day) from injection to delivery was shorter in the injected group than the control group (t = 2.1529, P < 0.05 in primiparae with 50 mg, t = 3.8829, P < 0.01 with 100 mg, t = 2.1029, P < 0.05 in multiparae with 50 mg). In some of these cases, labor began or delivery was finished within 24 h. Among the factors of Bishop score, mainly the effacement, consistency and dilatation of the cervix were remarkably improved by DHAS injection (P < 0.01 and < 0.05). Side effects of any type were not seen in the mothers and fetuses. DHAS injection is considered to produce favorable conditions for delivery in women with unripe cervix by softening the soft birth canal. Furthermore, it is suggested that DHAS might play an important role in triggering labor.