The outcome results were:
(1)Cervical ripening - no differences were found in the change of cervical Bishop's scores or the number of doses required between groups;
(2)Intrapartum variables (i.e. minutes from the start of the trial to delivery, failed inductions, labour/delivery before oxytocin, etc.) - intervals from the start to delivery (irrespective of dosages), as well as rates of labour as a result of preinduction cervical ripening alone and of vaginal deliveries not requiring oxytocin infusion, were all similar.
(3)Neonatal and maternal outcomes (birthweights, cord pH and base excess, Apgar scores, NICU admission/days, and endometritis) - no significant differences were noted.
(4) Intrapartum complications and mode of delivery (FHR abnormalities, dystocia, bleeding >500 ml, scalp pH, and mode of delivery) - similar results were found for each area except cesarean deliveries (12.9% in the commercial gel group versus 28.1% in the compounded gel group (relative risk 0.58, 95% CI: 0.33 - 0.98, p=0.03)) even after controlling for confounding variables such as birthweight, body mass index, and epidural use.