Effect of intramuscular administration of dexamethasone on the duration of labor

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of dexamethasone administration on labor duration. Method: In this controlled trial 122 nulliparous women with a full-term pregnancy and a Bishop score of 7 or greater were randomly assigned to receive a single 8-mg dose of dexamethasone or placebo 6 hours before initiation of labor induction. Results: The interval between initiation of labor induction and beginning of the active phase of labor was shorter in the dexamethasone than in the control group (3.09 ± 1.5 hours vs. 4.21 ± 1.8 hours; P = 0.001). The duration of the second stage of labor was also shorter in the dexamethasone group (22.23 ± 16.09 minutes vs. 29.01 ± 15.32 minutes; P = 0.014). Conclusion: The administration of dexamethasone was found to shorten labor duration. © 2008 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics