dinoprostone at a glance
Medicine class
Prostaglandin E2 and uterotonic agent
Main role
Ripens the cervix and helps start labour
How it is given
By a healthcare professional as a vaginal delivery system, vaginal tablet, vaginal gel or intravenous infusion, depending on the product
What is dinoprostone used for?
The selected products are licensed for specialist obstetric use.
Initiating cervical ripening at term with the removable vaginal delivery system.
Inducing labour with vaginal tablets, vaginal gel or the selected intravenous formulation when there is no maternal or fetal contraindication.
How does dinoprostone work?
Dinoprostone acts like naturally occurring prostaglandin E2. It softens, shortens and opens the cervix and can stimulate the smooth muscle of the uterus to contract. It is rapidly broken down after absorption.
dinoprostone preparations and strengths
Vaginal gel
Route: Vaginal
Strengths: 1 mg, 2 mg
How to take dinoprostone
Dinoprostone is administered by trained healthcare professionals, not taken independently. Vaginal products are placed high in the vagina; the delivery system has retrieval tape so it can be removed promptly. Follow the maternity team's instructions about resting after insertion, movement, washing, eating and drinking, and avoid pulling the retrieval tape.
Tell staff about previous caesarean birth or uterine surgery, unexplained bleeding, asthma, glaucoma, epilepsy and significant heart, lung, liver or kidney disease.
If outpatient induction is agreed, follow the maternity unit's monitoring and return instructions exactly.
Do not attempt to remove, replace or reinsert a vaginal product unless instructed by the maternity team.
dinoprostone side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea or vomiting
- Back, abdominal or vaginal discomfort
- Vaginal burning or irritation
- Fever, headache or dizziness with some formulations
- Diarrhoea, particularly with intravenous use
- Changes in contraction pattern or the baby's heart-rate tracing
Get urgent medical advice
- Excessive, prolonged or abnormally strong uterine contractions
- Fetal distress or significant fetal heart-rate changes
- Uterine rupture or placental separation
- Severe allergic or anaphylactoid reaction
- Bronchospasm or severe breathing difficulty
- Heavy bleeding or disseminated intravascular coagulation
dinoprostone in pregnancy
Dinoprostone is specifically used during pregnancy for cervical ripening or labour induction under specialist supervision. The vaginal delivery system is licensed only from term and must not be used earlier. The maternity team should first assess whether prostaglandin induction is appropriate for the mother and baby.
dinoprostone while breastfeeding
Small, short-lived exposure through colostrum or breast milk may occur, but the selected product information does not expect this to prevent breastfeeding or harm the newborn in the circumstances of use. Ask the maternity or neonatal team if the baby is premature or unwell.
dinoprostone interactions
The maternity team should review uterotonic and anti-inflammatory treatment before dinoprostone is used.
Oxytocin and other uterotonic or labour-inducing agents
Dinoprostone can increase their uterine effects, raising the risk of excessive contractions; concurrent use is generally avoided and sequential use requires careful monitoring.
Common questions about dinoprostone
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is dinoprostone the same as prostaglandin E2?
Dinoprostone is the medicinal form of prostaglandin E2, a substance naturally involved in cervical ripening and uterine contractions.
Why is dinoprostone used before labour?
It helps soften, shorten and open an unripe cervix and may also start uterine contractions.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.