INDUCTION OF LABOUR WITH PROSTAGLANDIN E₂

Abstract

Summary The effect of prostaglandin E 2 on the activity of the pregnant human uterus in vivo has been studied in 50 women at or near term and in need of induction. Labour was successfully induced in all cases with a continuous infusion of 0·5 μg./min. The uterine activity produced by prostaglandin infusion resembled that of normal spontaneous labour. No unphysiological increase in uterine tonus was observed. The average infusion time was 5·5 hours and the average infusion‐delivery interval was 10 hours.