Prostaglandin E2 vaginal pessaries in the grandmultipara with an unripe cervix, a comparison of different parity groups.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the safety and efficiency of 3 mg prostaglandin E2 in pessary form as a method for induction of labor in grandmultiparous women.

METHOD

Case notes were reviewed for 198 women at Jahra Hospital in Kuwait who underwent induction of labor between 37 and 43 weeks of gestation. All women had an unripe cervix. Fifty-nine women were nulliparous, 85 women were multiparous (parity 1-5) and 54 women were grandmultiparous (parity 6-12). Comparisons between groups were examined for statistical significance by: chi 2, ANOVA test, Kurskal-Wallis test and Spearman rank correlation test as appropriate.

RESULT

Pregnant women in the grandmultiparous group needed fewer repeated doses (P < 0.001) and had a shorter mean induction delivery interval (P < 0.01) than women in the other two parity groups. There were no differences in the need for oxytocin augmentation or method of delivery between the three parity groups.

CONCLUSION

Prostaglandin E2 vaginal pessaries proved to be a safe and effective method for induction of labor in grandmultiparous women.