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Abstract
Post-term pregnancy occurs in approximately 5-10% of all singleton gestations. The adverse outcomes of post-term pregnancy include a substantial increase in peri-natal mortality and morbidity (Rand et al., 2000).
Oxytocin and prostaglandins are the agents most frequently used for induction of labor (ACOG, 1995). Although oxytocin is widely accepted as a safe and effective initiator of uterine contraction, its success is dependent on condition of the cervix before induction.
Cervical ripening prior to surgical termination of pregnancy has been shown to reduce the associated operative morbidity (Ekerhovd et al., 2000). An agent that ripened the cervix without stimulating uterine activity would be the ideal cervical ripening agent (Thomson et al., 1998).
Nitric oxide (NO) has been found to be involved in the processes of cervical ripening, it is believed that there is an endogenous NO system is present in the uterine cervix at term, and this tissue is responsive to NO, which causes relaxation of the cervical muscle (Ekerhovd et al., 2000).