The Effect of Membrane Sweeping on the Duration of Pregnancy

Post term pregnancy is one of the most significant problems. Considering the importance of pregnancy duration and different records upon effects of membrane sweeping on decreasing pregnancy duration, this study have been conducted to determinet the effect of membrane sweeping on the duration of pregnancy in Taleghani hospital between 2006 and2008. A randomize-controlled trial study was performed on 100 pregnant women over 40 weeks of gestational age who had no complications. Women were assigned to have their membranes swept or not, in accordance with their inductions. The main outcome measures included duration of pregnancy, possible complications of sweeping of membranes including rupture of membranes, postpartum infection and vaginal bleeding. Patients have been randomly divided into two groups and evaluated by interval stripping or vaginal exam upto their delivery. Complication and delivery type were recorded as well. Chi square or Fisher’s exact test, Group t-test, survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier) was used to analyze data. P-value of less than 0.05 on two-tailed analyses were regarded as statistically significant. The mean age in control and study groups were 26.2 ±4.8 and 25.4 ± 4.4, respectively. Also Gestational age of control and study groups when stripping or vaginal exam were performed, was 281±1 and 282±1 weeks, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the subjects. The mean interval time declined significantly from 6.2±1.9 in control group to 3.7 ± 1.2 in cases (P< 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between complications like vaginal bleeding, PROM and fetal distress, but Cesarean section rate was significantly lower in study group (34% and 14% in control and study groups), respectively (P<0.02). Sweeping of membranes could lead to decrease the duration of pregnancy and Cesarean section rate. Also, sweeping of membranes had no other complications such as PROM, bleeding and fetal distress. Therefore, through this study we can recommend the process of sweeping the membranes.