The role of prostaglandins in ripening of cervix, induction of labour and control of Postpartum Haemorrhage

Recently, investigators have shown the use of alternative prostaglandin PGE1 Misoprostol for cervical ripening and induction of labour.1,2 It is prostaglandin E1 analogue, which was introduced as the treatment of gastric ulcer, but later on FDA approved a new label for the use of Misoprostol during pregnancy.3 It has been used for many years for the first and second trimesters of pregnancy termination and induction of labour, because it acts as uterotonic and softens the cervix by increasing proteoglycon content and changing the biophysical properties of collagen.4 Misoprostol can be administered orally, rectally or vaginally for the induction of labour. Intravaginal Misoprostol is an efficacious, economical and safe method of induction of labour in patients with toxemia of pregnancy, even with modified Bishop’s score of < 4 in eclampsia.5,6