Mifepristone as pre-induction cervical ripening agent: a review article

ABSTRACT

Induction of labour after the period of viability by any methods medical, surgical or combined, for the purpose of vaginal delivery. The success of induction, to a great extent, depend upon pre-induction cervical status i.e. cervical ripening. So, ripening of cervix prior to induction i.e. pre-induction cervical ripening is one of the important steps for successful induction of labour. There are different methods for cervical ripening like prostaglandins (PGE). However, use of prostaglandins (PGE) and oxytocin as labour inducing agent has its own adverse effects on maternal and perinatal outcome. So, constant efforts are made for the less use of uterotonins. The present review aims to study the efficacy of oral Mifepristone for improvement in Bishop’s score, requirement of additional uterotonics, induction delivery interval, mode of delivery and neonatal outcome. Electronic databases were searched by using keywords ‘Mifepristone, RU486, PGE2 gel, Cervical ripening, Bishop’s score and Induction of labour’ and eleven articles were found from 2009 to 2018 which fulfils our study criteria and thus they were taken for review. Based on all the studies, Mifepristone appears to be effective cervical ripening in comparison to other agents with significant improvement in Bishop’s score, higher vaginal delivery rate, shorter induction delivery interval and good neonatal outcome.