Membrane Stripping for Prevention of Post-Term Pregnancy in Nulliparous Women

This study evaluates the efficacy of stripping the membranes after 40 weeks of gestation in reducing the incidence of post-term pregnancy in nulliparous women. In adouble-blind and prospective controlled clinical study 134 normal nulliparous women with no uterine contraction, were randomly (by using random number table) allocated at the 40th week (281 days) of gestation to membrane stripping group (n=66) or control group (n=68). The membranes in the first group were stripped every 48 hours until labor, while the patients in the control group were received pelvic examination only once. The main outcome measures included the time interval between the pelvic examination and delivery, the incidence of post-term pregnancy, and adverse effects such as preterm rupture of membranes, vaginal bleeding, and meconium staining in the two groups. We analyzed the data using SPSS software version 15.0. Chi square and t tests were used and P<0.05 was considered significant. Serial sweeping of the membranes decreased the risk of post-term pregnancy (16.5% v 44%, p<0.05).The onset of delivery was significantly shorter in stripped group (5.6 v 9.4 days, p<0.05). Spontaneous delivery was significantly more in stripped group (p<0.05). Adverse effects were similar in both groups (p> 0.05).Membrane stripping at 40th week of pregnancy can prevent post-term pregnancy in nulliparous women.