Background: Induction of labor implies stimulation of contractions before the spontaneous onset of labor and is indicated when have benefits to eighter mother or fetus. Uterine contractions and an appropriate cervix are two important factors in labor and are contributed to good outcomes. Nowadays, there are many therapeutic modalities for it such as misoprostol. Both vaginal and oral misoprostol may be used for eighter cervical ripening or labor induction. The tablets are stable at room temperature. Regarding the issue importance and lack of similar studies in Iran, this study was conducted to compare the efficacy of sublingual and vaginal misoprostol for labor induction. Methods: This study was conducted as a randomized double-blind clinical trial. In this survey, 250 women were randomly assigned to receive 25 g vaginal misoprostol plus sublingual placebo or 25 g sublingual misoprostol plus vaginal placebo in Arash hospital Tehran, Iran from 2008 to 2010. The maternal and fetal complications, Bishop Score, and time of pain onset and it’s interval with labor were monitored in two groups analyzed. Results: Mean Bishop Score, and time of pain onset and its interval with labor were similar in two groups (p>0.05). 43 patients (34.4%) in sublingual and 54 (43.2%) in vaginal group had normal vaginal delivery (p>0.05). The frequencies of maternal and fetal complications were similar between two groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: It may be concluded that there is no difference between efficacy of sublingual and vaginal misoprostol in pregnancy outcomes, maternal and fetal complications and so each one may be used according to pregnant woman’s condition and physician attitude.

Keywords: Misoprostol, labor induction, term pregnancy

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