A Prospective Study to predict Vaginal Cytology and Bishop Score as Predictors of Onset of Labor

Abstract

Cover letter Vaginal cytology reflects changes in estrogen and progesterone in pregnancy. The change represents a transition from predominance of navicular cells and clusters of intermediate cells (evidence of progesterone) to appearance of fewer or small sheets of clusters with abundance of superficial cells (evidence of progesterone withdrawal) at the onset of labor. Thus, vaginal cytology is a simple and inexpensive parameter to predict the onset of labor with ease. The vaginal smear yields unsurpassed speed and convenience. Bishop score, a clinical parameter also predicts the onset of labor. At the onset of labor, Bishop score improves.