title: Labor induction: a review of current methods.
abstract: This article reviews the essential criteria for inductions of labor, weighing both the advantages and disadvantages of labor induction, and the various mechanical and pharmacologic agents available for cervical ripening. At the end of this article, one should be able to counsel women about the potential risks and benefit of labor induction and understand the neonatal consequences of elective induction of labor before 39 weeks of gestation. This article also discusses the different mechanical and pharmacologic agents available for cervical ripening.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA. mildred.m.ramirez@uth.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Mildred M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ramirez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016896:Treatment Outcome