Fax +41 61 306 12 34
E-Mail karger@karger.ch
www.karger.com
Original Article
Gynecol Obstet Invest 2006;62:41–44
DOI: 10.1159/000091842
Effect of Membrane Sweeping at
Term Pregnancy on Duration of Pregnancy and
Labor Induction: A Randomized Trial
Maryam Kashanian
a
Abdolrasool Akbarian
a
Hamid Baradaran
b
Mitra Meshki Samiee
a
Departments of
a
Obstetrics and Gynecology and
b
Epidemiology, Iran University of Medical Sciences,
Tehran, Iran
sweeping group and 4 in the control group). There were
no statistically significant differences between these in-
dividuals (p = 0.68). Significant vaginal bleeding was not
observed in the two groups. Meconium-stained amni-
otic fluid was seen in 13 women: 8 in the sweeping group
and 5 in the control group. There were no statistically
significant differences among the women who had me-
conium-stained fluid in case and control groups (p =
0.39).There were no differences between women who
had puerperal fever (3 in the sweeping group and 2 in
the control group; p = 0.68).12 of the 101 women (6 in
each group) had cesarean section performed, but there
was no difference betweeen the two groups. Conclu-
sion: Sweeping of membranes at 39 weeks of gestation
has no significant clinical effect on the duration of preg-
nancy.
Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel
Introduction
Induction is an artificial initiation of labor before its
spontaneous onset for the purpose of delivery of the feto-
placental unit. Labor induction is common in obstetric
practice, and its rate varies from 9.5 to 33.7% of all preg-
nancies annually. If induction is indicated and the status
of the cervix is unfavorable, methods for cervical ripening
Key Words
Membrane sweeping Labor induction Postterm
pregnancy
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of sweeping of fetal mem-
branes for induction of labor in uncomplicated term
pregnancies. Methods: A randomized controlled trial
was performed in 122 pregnant women beyond 39 weeks
of gestation with no complications. The women were as-
signed to have their membranes swept or not (controls)
for labor induction. The main outcome measures includ-
ed duration of pregnancy and possible complications of
sweeping of membranes, including rupture of mem-
branes, postpartum infections, and vaginal bleeding. Re-
sults: Twenty-one patients did not give birth in our hos-
pital and were, therefore, excluded from the study; 101
women completed the study (51 patients in the control
group and 50 women in the study group). There were no
statistically significant differences in maternal age, par-
ity, birth weight, and Bishop score in the two groups. The
mean interval between sweeping (stripping) and vaginal
examination until delivery was 7.7 8 (SD) 6.9 and 7.1 8
5.6 days in the sweeping and in the control group, re-
spectively (p = 0.61). Of the 101 pregnant women, only 6
patients had premature rupture of membranes (2 in the
Received: September 27, 2005
Accepted after revision: January 17, 2006
Published online: March 3, 2006
Maryam Kashanian, MD
Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iran University of Medical Sciences
Khajeh Nasir Toosi Ave, Mostaghimi Alley 83
16117 Tehran (Iran)
Tel. +98 21 7752 3487, Fax +98 21 7760 7016, E-Mail maryamkashanian@yahoo.com
© 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel
0378–7346/06/0621–0041$23.50/0
Accessible online at:
www.karger.com/goi