RESUMO
One hundred gravid women were included in the study. They were 38 weeks gestation with no medical, surgical or obstetric problems. These women divided equally into 2 groups, the study and the control group. Both groups were matched for age, parity, gestational age and initial Bishop score. All patients had a full examination included the gentle cervico-vaginal examination to assess the initial Bishop score and 30 minutes cardiotocogram. Traumatic vaginal examination was done every week for the control group to assess their Bishop score. The study group underwent weekly stripping of the membranes. The stripped group delivered significantly earlier than the control group [7.8 + 0.58 vs. 14.7 +/- 0.88 days, P <0.001]. Post term deliveries were less frequent in the study group than in the control group [3 vs. 1, P <0.004]. Less frequency of cesarean section in the stripping group than in the control group. Complications were statistically significant minimal with satisfactory fetal and maternal outcome in the study group