New study ranks methods to induce labor on effectiveness, cost

More than 150,000 pregnant women in England and Wales have their labors induced each year. Multiple pharmacological, non-pharmacological, mechanical and complementary methods are available to induce labor.

As the number of women facing induction increases, and as new evidence from trials emerges, it has become urgent to address questions about which methods of inducing labor are most effective, cost-effective, safe and acceptable to women.

Most successful method

As part of the review, estimates were produced for the different methods and these were compared using both direct comparisons of interventions within randomized controlled trials and indirect comparisons across trials based on common comparators.

In total the study examined 611 randomised controlled trials looking at induction of labor and found that the use of either a contraction-inducing medication (oxytocin), or artificial rupture of membranes (amniotomy), or a labor inducing medication (vaginal misoprostol) were more successful than other methods in achieving vaginal delivery within 24 hours.

The review was conducted as part of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) UK.

Best value to NHS

Head of Department of Women's and Children's Health, Professor Zarko Alfirevic, said: "In our cost-effectiveness analysis, the use of titrated low dose oral misoprostol or misoprostol tablet dissolved under the tongue, was found to be the best value for money to the NHS."

"Despite the large number of trials included in our analysis, there is still a considerable uncertainty in the ranking of various methods, particularly regarding their safety. We advocate further research to find better, safer and cheaper methods.

"We urge researchers to explore women's views of the labor induction process as part of any future study, report fully all safety outcomes, and measure the impact from the perspective of the mother and baby."