DOES SWEEPING OF THE MEMBRANES REDUCE THE NEED FOR FORMAL INDUCTION OF LABOR - A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Objective 1. To evaluate the effectiveness of sweeping of the membrane s to reduce the need for a formal induction of labour: 2. to evaluate the side effects of this intervention. Design A randomised controlled clinical trial. Setting Three tertiary care hospitals of the province of Quebec, Canada. Population Two hundred women for whom non-urgent in duction of labour was medically indicated. Methods Women were randomly allocated to sweeping of membranes, or vaginal examination for Bishop scoring only. Main outcome measures 1. Cumulative incidence and relat ive risk of induction of labour by either oxytocin, prostaglandins or amniotomy; 2. women's discomfort and side effects attributable to swee ping of the membranes. Results Women allocated to sweeping of the memb ranes required formal induction of labour less frequently than women i n the control group, but this difference was not statistically signifi cant (49% vs 60%, RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.64-1.07). Pain during vaginal exam ination and other side effects were more frequently reported by women allocated to the sweeping group. Conclusions The observed reduction in the need for formal induction of labour is smaller than in previous s tudies. Side effects and discomfort associated with sweeping of the me mbranes must be taken into account when counselling women who require induction of labour.