Cervical ripening

Last revised by Rohit Sharma on 1 Apr 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Iqbal S, Sharma R, Knipe H, Cervical ripening. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 25 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-88130

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-88130

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/88130

rID:

88130

Article created:

27 Mar 2021, Subhan Iqbal

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Subhan Iqbal had no recorded disclosures.

View Subhan Iqbal's current disclosures

Last revised:

1 Apr 2021, Rohit Sharma ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Rohit Sharma had no recorded disclosures.

View Rohit Sharma's current disclosures

Revisions:

4 times, by 3 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Obstetrics

Tags:

cases

Cervical ripening is the softening of the cervix that needs to occur before induction of labor and delivery of the fetus. The use of appropriate interventions (e.g. isoprostol, nitric oxide, PGE2, Foley's balloon in case of low-risk females, acupuncture ^1-5) can lead to satisfactory cervical ripening without significant effect over uterine contractions/labor.

Practical points

a Bishop score <6 it is recommended that a cervical ripening agent should be used before induction of labor
if the Bishop score is satisfactory, the choice of medicine is oxytocin ^2,3