title: Electrical impedance measurements: an objective measure of prelabor cervical change.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the use of electrical impedance measurements of the pregnant cervix as an objective measure of cervical favorability (Bishop score > or = 5).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of 86 women, investigating electrical impedance measurements of the pregnant cervix at the time of induction of labor. Transfer electrical impedance measurements were made by placing a tetrapolar pencil probe of 8 mm in diameter on the surface of the cervix. A Bishop score was determined simultaneously.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A mean resistivity (standard error of the mean) of 7.03 (6.01-8.04) omega(m) was measured for the unfavorable group and 5.34 (4.61-6.07) omega(m) for the favorable group. This was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.016).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We highlight the ability of this safe, painless technique to differentiate the favorable from the unfavorable cervix at induction of labor.
authors.affiliation: Coombe Women's Hospital, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Avis
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Killick
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lindow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000502:physiology*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007745:Labor Onset / Q000502:physiology*; D007751:Labor, Induced; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies