title: Misoprostol for induction of labor.
abstract: Labor-induction rates have increased considerably in the United States as well as around the world. With up to half of all induced labors requiring cervical ripening, prostaglandins have been utilized to increase induction success and achieve vaginal delivery. Misoprostol, a synthetic prostaglandin E1 analog has the ability to mimic the changes of spontaneous labor and has been used off label for over 30 years as a labor-induction agent. In the following article, cervical ripening and induction of labor with misoprostol will be discussed. The risks and benefits of misoprostol for ripening and induction and routes of administration will be reviewed, as well as future directions and new developments for its use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, 101 The City Drive South, Building 56, Suite 800, Orange, Irvine, CA. Electronic address: mfm@uci.edu.
authors.forename: Megan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Stephenson
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, 101 The City Drive South, Building 56, Suite 800, Orange, Irvine, CA.
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wing
mesh_terms: D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D010120:Oxytocics; D016595:Misoprostol