title: Overview of the mechanisms of induction of labor.
abstract: Here we provide a brief overview of the natural process of labor and its biochemical, hormonal, and mechanical characteristics that can be exploited in methods employed for induction of labor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Electronic address: roxanna.irani@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Roxanna A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Irani
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012065:Relaxin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010120:Oxytocics; D011374:Progesterone; D012065:Relaxin; D011464:Epoprostenol