What do systematic reviews say?

Oral misoprostol vs intravenous (IV) oxytocin

It is very uncertain whether oral misoprostol changes admission to neonatal intensive care unit compared with intravenous oxytocin (very low certainty).

• Low‐dose oral misoprostol for induction of labour 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.65 [0.12, 3.45]
  4 studies · 517 participants
  Very low

Oral misoprostol vs mechanical methods

Oral misoprostol showed no clear difference in admission to neonatal intensive care unit compared with mechanical methods (low certainty).

• Low‐dose oral misoprostol for induction of labour 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.24 [0.87, 1.76]
  5 studies · 2886 participants
  Low

Oral misoprostol vs placebo/no treatment

• Low‐dose oral misoprostol for induction of labour 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 130 participants
  Very low

Oral misoprostol vs vaginal dinoprostone

Oral misoprostol showed no clear difference in admission to neonatal intensive care unit compared with vaginal dinoprostone (low certainty).

• Low‐dose oral misoprostol for induction of labour 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.8 [0.6, 1.07]
  11 studies · 9278 participants
  Low

Oral misoprostol vs vaginal misoprostol

Oral misoprostol showed no clear difference in admission to neonatal intensive care unit compared with vaginal misoprostol (moderate certainty).

• Low‐dose oral misoprostol for induction of labour 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.03 [0.86, 1.23]
  23 studies · 4450 participants
  Moderate

Oral misoprostol one‐ to two‐hourly vs oral misoprostol four‐ to six‐hourly

• Low‐dose oral misoprostol for induction of labour 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 64 participants
  Very low