skip to main content

Epidural analgesia — DRCOG MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

ModerateLabourEpidural analgesiaDRCOG

A 27-year-old primigravida in established labour requests an epidural. Her partner says epidurals commonly lead to caesarean birth and asks whether she should avoid it. What would you advise?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C — Epidural is an effective analgesic option and should be discussed with anaesthetic review

Epidural analgesia is an effective option in labour and should be provided with appropriate anaesthetic assessment and counselling. It is not contraindicated simply because labour is uncomplicated. Women do not need to try intramuscular opioids first. Epidural may be associated with longer second stage or instrumental delivery in some contexts, but it should not be denied on that basis.

Reference: NICE NG235