Shapoor Shoja - Department of Anesthesiology, Medical Faculty, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Seyedeh Reyhaneh Yousefi Sharami - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Shole Shahgheibi - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Farnaz Zand-Vakili - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Shamsi Zare - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Daem Roshani - Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
Nasrin Sofizadeh - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

Background & Objective: The induction of labor is needed to terminate pregnancy in pregnant women lacking labor pain. Common indications of labor induction include rapture of membranes without labor pain, hypertension, fetus’ unreassuring conditions and post-term pregnancies. The purpose of this study is to compare and contrast vaginal misoprostol with Foley catheter in cervical ripening and the induction of labor. Materials & Methods: This study was done on pregnant women who showed pregnancy termination indication for any cause, using randomized clinical trial method. Inclusion criteria in this study included gestational age equal to or greater than 37 weeks and ultrasonography of the first trimester, unfit cervix Bishop Score 1 equal to or less than 4, single-shot pregnancies, vertex display, intact membrane and the subject’s consent to participate in the research. Patients were divided into two equal groups of 60. Oxytocin was used for the induction of labor if the patient did not enter the active phase. Results: In this study, the average age of women in Foley catheter group and misoprostol group were 27.03±4.04 and 26.85±3.49 respectively in which there was no meaningful difference statistically. However, the average age of women with cesarean delivery was statistically more than the average age of women with NVD. Bishop score 2 has demonstrated more increase in comparison to Bishop score 1 among Foley catheter group rather than misoprostol group. The average of labor speed, the number of women with NVD and the failure of induction in Foley catheter group exceeded those in misoprostol group. Conclusion:  According to the results gained in this study, Foley catheter application for induction of labor had better outcomes in comparison to vaginal misoprostol. It can even be a better alternative for vaginal misoprostol; hereby the side effects of misoprostol such as possible tachysystol and fetus distress can be prevented.

Cervix ripening, Foley catheter, Induction of labor, Misoprostol