ISSN 0300-9092 (Print)
ISSN 2412-5679 (Online)

A modern perspective on the issue of labor induction: time of delivery in various obstetric and extragenital pathologies

Mamedova M.A., Kapustin R.V., Bespalova O.N.

D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, St. Petersburg, Russia

The increasing frequency of induced labor in recent years has led to the need for scientific and clinical research into the outcomes of this procedure for both mother and fetus. Labor induction is an active medical intervention intended to stimulate uterine contractions before natural labor begins. Labor may be induced for a variety of indications. However, there are still significant challenges in choosing the best methods, timing of the procedure, and clear indications for induction, especially when dealing with a combination of extragenital pathology and gestational complications, as well as varying degrees of cervical ripening and gestational age.  
Methods of labor induction include both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches. The most widely used methods involve prostaglandin preparations, antiprogestins, oxytocin, and mechanical techniques. Each method has its own indications, contraindications, and risk profile, which require an individual approach to choosing patient management tactics. The combined use of methods can increase the effectiveness of the procedure, but it may also increase the risk of complications such as uterine hyperstimulation or fetal distress.
Conclusion: The results of recent studies have been contradictory, and there is still no definitive conclusion on the effect of labor induction on maternal and perinatal outcomes compared to a wait-and-see approach. It is necessary to use more personalized induction protocols, systematic risk profiling of pregnant women, standardization of approaches to assess cervical ripening with the help of the Bishop score and ultrasound techniques. Additionally, objective criteria for evaluating the effectiveness and safety of labor induction procedures should be developed.

Authors’ contributions: Kapustin R.V. – developing the concept of the study; Mamedova M.A. – collecting and processing the material, writing the text; Kapustin R.V., Bespalova O.N. – editing the article.
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.
Funding:  The work is based on the research project “Biomedical matrices of healthy motherhood and antenatal programming of the fetus” (FGWN-2025-0005), with the registration number 1024032800227-5-3.2.2.
Ethical Approval: The study was approved by the Ethical Review Board of the D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, protocol No. 141 dated March 04, 2025.
For citation: Mamedova M.A., Kapustin R.V., Bespalova O.N. A modern perspective on 
the issue of labor induction: time of delivery in various obstetric and extragenital pathologies.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2025; (9): 5-15 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2025.190

Keywords

labor induction
induced labor
gestational complications

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Received 11.07.2025

Accepted 20.08.2025

About the Authors

Mekhri A. Mamedova, PhD, obstetrician-gynecologist at the Maternity Department, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, 199034, Russia, St. Petersburg, Mendeleevskaya line, 3, +7(921)388-02-25, mmekhri@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1705-9554
Roman V. Kapustin, Dr. Med. Sci., Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology, Maternity Department, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, 199034, Russia, St. Petersburg, Mendeleevskaya line, 3, +7(812)328-98-47, kapustin.roman@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2783-3032
Olesya N. Bespalova, Dr. Med. Sci., Deputy Director for Research, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, 199034, Russia, St. Petersburg, Mendeleevskaya line, 3, +7(812)328-98-68, shiggerra@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6542-5953
Corresponding author: Mekhri A. Mamedova, mmekhri@gmail.com

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