The Role of Prostaglandins in Labour Induction

Abstract

The search for safe and reli- able methods of labour induction has led to the exploration of many differ- ent techniques and the application of a variety of pharmacological agents. Many of these have had little in com mon with normal physiology but those proving to be the most successful and most acceptable to patients have been those with a sound basis in normal physiology. The reason the prosta- glandins have made such an impact on labour induction is that they represent the method which has hitherto most closely replicated the physiological control of spontaneous labour.