Effect of vaginal washing before Misoprostol insertion on cervical ripening before induction of labor: A randomized single-blind clinical trial

Background Vaginal pH is acidic in pregnancy, but there is no information about pH changes in pregnancy, and contradictory results have been reported from the effectiveness of Misoprostol at different vaginal pH. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of vaginal washing before Misoprostol insertion on cervical ripening before induction of labor in comparison with the control group. Methods This randomized single-blind clinical trial was performed on 148 pregnant women who were candidates for induction of labor. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups of intervention (vaginal washing with 20 cc of normal saline 0.9% before Misoprostol insertion) and the control group (without vaginal washing). Vaginal pH and Bishop scores were measured before and after the intervention. The two groups were compared in demographic-obstetric variables, the success rate of induction of labor, maternal and neonatal outcomes, and Misoprostol dose. Results After the intervention, there was no statistically significant difference between the pH before and after in the group with vaginal washing. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the type and duration of labor, and maternal and neonatal outcomes (P > .05). The frequency of normal delivery less than 12 hours in the intervention group was higher than in the control group. Although this difference was not statistically significant due to the small number of subjects, it is clinically significant. Conclusion The results of the present study showed that vaginal washing with normal saline before Misoprostol insertion for induction of labor did not affect the success of induction and duration of labor.