Outpatient vaginal administration of the nitric oxide donor isosorbide mononitrate for cervical ripening and labor induction postterm: a randomized controlled study

Abstract

Objective: Our aim was to examine the efficacy, safety, and acceptability of isosorbide mononitrate for cervical ripening and labor induction in women in an outpatient setting.

Study design: Two hundred pregnant women of at least 42 weeks' gestation with an unripe cervix were randomly selected to receive vaginally either 40 mg isosorbide mononitrate or placebo tablets.

Results: Twenty-two women treated with isosorbide mononitrate went into labor within 24 hours compared to 8 women in the placebo group (P < .05). In women who did not go into labor, cervical status was similar in the 2 groups the next day. Headache was a common side effect. No maternal or fetal side effects of clinical importance were registered.

Conclusion: Outpatient cervical ripening and labor induction with isosorbide mononitrate seems to be an effective, safe, and well tolerated procedure. The definitive clinical efficacy and safety needs to be evaluated in larger series of patients.