Comparison of the Effect of Vaginal Capsule of Evening Primrose Oil and Misoprostol on Cervical Ripening of Nulliparous Women with Post-term Pregnancy

Background and Objective: The rates of perinatal mortality and neonatal morbidity are higher for post-term pregnancies than for term pregnancies. The present study was conducted to compare the effect of vaginal capsule of evening primrose oil and misoprostol on cervical ripening of nulliparous women with post-term pregnancy.

Materials and Methods: This one-blind randomized trial conducted on 130 pregnant women with post-term pregnancy visiting to the labor ward of Sanandaj Be`sat Hospital. Samples were divided into two groups of intervention and control with the randomized allocation method. The intervention group received 500 mg vaginal evening primrose capsule and 25 micrograms of sublingual misoprostol, and the control group received a placebo-vaginal capsule and 25 micrograms of misoprostol sublingually. Data collecting tools include: demographic questionnaire and bishop checklist. Data was analyzed by SPSS software version 15 with using Chi-square, T-test, one-way ANOVA test.

Results: The results showed that the mean bishop score of the subjects in the intervention group were significantly higher than the control group (p <0.05). There was no significant difference in uterine contractions, fetal heart rate and vital signs between two groups (p> 0.05).

Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that vaginal capsule of evening primrose oil with misoprostol on the cervical ripening in post-term pregnancies was more effective than misoprostol alone.