Induction of labour with vaginal prostaglandin E2 pessaries.

Wax-based pessaries, each containing 3 mg of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), were administered intravaginally for the induction of labour. The induction to delivery intervals were shorter than those in a control group induced by amniotomy and intravenous oxytocin. There was a remarkable reduction in the Caesarean section rate from 12 per cent in the control group to 2.4 per cent in the study group in primiparae, and from 8 per cent to 1.6 per cent in multiparae. Side effects associated with the PGE2 were rare, as were complications.