Buccal Versus Vaginal Misoprostol for Third Trimester Induction of Labor
Status:
Terminated
Trial end date:
2014-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Approximately 22% of term pregnancies are induced. Misoprostol, a prostaglandin E1 analogue,
is a widely accepted induction agent, that has been proven safe and effective for induction
of labor. It stimulates both cervical ripening and uterine contractions, thus making it an
ideal induction agent for unfavorable cervices. Research has examined the pharmacokinetics of
different administration routes and effects on uterine contractility, side effects, and
safety. Vaginal misoprostol has been shown to be superior over oral administration however
patients often prefer a more tolerable route. Buccal administration has already been shown to
be as effective as vaginal misoprostol for cervical ripening and induction in both first
trimester and second trimester abortions. There is minimal research comparing buccal versus
vaginal for third trimester induction of labor. The investigators study is a prospective,
double blinded, randomized control trial comparing vaginal misoprostol and buccal misoprostol
in equal dosages of 25 mcg. The investigators seek to answer the question whether buccal
misoprostol is as effective as vaginal misoprostol for third trimester induction of labor.