ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to show the effect of extraamniotic administration of corticosteroids to shorten the times to either active labor and/or delivery. This is a double blind randomized study. 65 patients who were candidates for the termination of pregnancy between the ages of 16-45, with intact membranes and unripe cervix were randomly divided into two groups, a study group [n=34] and a control group [n=31]. In the study group, 20mg of dexamethasone was infused through a Foley catheter into the extraamniotic space and the infusion was continued with normal saline in both groups. The result of the study showed that the interval of induction to active phase of labor was 6.6 +/- 2.33 hours in the study group and 8.2 +/- 3 hours in the control group [t= 2.413, p=0.0187]. The interval of induction to delivery was 8.4 +/- 2.62 hours in the study group and 10.05 +/- 3.35 hours in the control group [t= 2.828, p=0.0063]. In conclusion, corticosteroids may have a role in shortening the interval of induction to active phase of labor and the interval of induction to delivery