The efficacy and safety of 25 μg or 50 μg oral misoprostol versus 25 μg vaginal misoprostol given at 4‐ or 6‐hourly intervals for induction of labour in women at or beyond term with live singleton pregnancies: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

A recent study compared the effectiveness and safety of different regimens of misoprostol, a medication used for labor induction. The study found that low-dose vaginal misoprostol given every 4 to 6 hours resulted in more vaginal births within 24 hours and reduced the need for oxytocin augmentation compared to low-dose oral misoprostol given at the same intervals. Vaginal misoprostol increased the risk of uterine hyperstimulation with fetal heart rate changes, but did not increase the risk of perinatal mortality, neonatal morbidity, or maternal morbidity. The study suggests that 25 μg vaginal misoprostol every 4 hours may be as effective and safe as the recommended 6-hour regimen. These findings have implications for obstetric units in resource-constrained settings.