The routine use of oral prostaglandin E2 tablets for induction or augmentation of labour.

The use of oral prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) tablets is an effective and safe adjunct to low amniotomy for the induction of labour at term. Routine use of this regimen and the use of oral PGE2 tablets for augmentation of spontaneous labour has shown that the method is very effective in multiparous patients, but much less so in primiparous patients. Success or failure could not be predicted by the pre-induction Bishop score. The incidence of gastro-intestinal side effect is dose dependent, but is low in multiparous patients.