Skip to main content
SMFM 2026 Pregnancy Meeting Main banner
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Presentation Icons
Additional registration fee required
Additional registration fee required
Faculty have requested this content not be shared outside of the session
Faculty have requested this content not be shared outside of the session
CME Credit Offered
CME Credit Offered
Abstract Award
Abstract Award
Recording available 2/16-5/2
Recording available 2/16-5/2
AIUM Credit
AIUM Credit
Foundation Awardee
Foundation Awardee
Poster Icons
Abstract Award
Abstract Award
Foundation Awardee
Foundation Awardee

Poster Session 3

Category: Labor

Poster Session 3

(706) Less frequent versus more frequent cervical examinations during labor: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Thursday, February 12, 2026
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM  
Objective:
To compare less frequent versus more frequent cervical examinations in labor in terms of obstetric, maternal, and neonatal outcomes

Study Design:
Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We included all RCTs written in English comparing less frequent versus more frequent cervical examinations in labor. The primary outcome was time from randomization to delivery. The secondary outcomes were duration of first and second stage of labor, number of vaginal examinations, incidence of chorioamnionitis, maternal fever, estimated blood loss (EBL) ≥ 500mL, Apgar score < 7 at 5 minutes, umbilical cord pH, admission to NICU.
 The summary measures were reported as relative risk (RR) or as mean difference (MD) with 95% of confidence interval (CI)

Results:
Five RCTs, including 982 pregnancies, were analyzed. Three RCTs compared cervical exams in labor done every 8 vs 4 hours, one RCT ‘only if indicated’ vs 4 hours, and one RCT 4 vs 2 hours. The time from randomization to delivery was similar between the two groups (10.9 vs 9.79, p value = 0.78). Likewise, there were no significant difference between less frequent and more frequent cervical examinations during labor, with respect to the duration of first and second stage of labor, number of vaginal examinations, mode of delivery, chorioamnionitis rate, maternal fever, EBL ≥500 mL, maternal satisfaction, Apgar score < 7 at 5 minutes, umbilical cord pH, admission to NICU (Table 1-2)

Conclusion:
Less frequent compared to more frequent cervical examinations during labor have similar impact on time from randomization to delivery, and other obstetric, maternal, and neonatal outcomes. Based on these limited data, less frequent cervical examinations may be offered in labor, unless clinically indicated