Table 1.
Characteristics of included studies.
| Reference | Methods | Participants | Interventions (Dosage) | Interventions (Duration of treatment) | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azad et al., 2022 | RCT | EG:88 | EG: 500 mg vaginal EPO capsules | 6 h before oxytocin induction of labor | -Bishop score |
| -double blind | CG: 87 | CG: Placebo vaginal | -Duration of the latent phase | ||
| -two arms | 6 h before oxytocin induction of labor | - The parturition time | |||
| - length of the active phase | |||||
| -The second stage of labor | |||||
| -Apgar scores | |||||
| Hashemnejad et al., 2019 | -RCT | EG:80 | EG: 2 vaginal capsule EPO 1000 | From 37 weeks gestation to contractions and birth onset | -The time interval between intervention and contractions initiation |
| -triple blind | CG:80 | CG: 2 placebo vaginal capsule | -The time span between intervention and birth onset | ||
| -two arms | - Cesarean rate | ||||
| Najafi et al., 2019 | -RCT | EG:43 | EG: vaginal capsule EPO 1000 daily | From 38 weeks gestation until birth | -Bishop score |
| -double blind | CG:43 | CG: Vaginal capsule | -Duration of the latent, active and second stage of labor | ||
| -two arms | Placebo daily | -Induction and augmentation of labor | |||
| - First and fifth minute Apgar scores | |||||
| -Mode of delivery | |||||
| -Postpartum hemorrhage | |||||
| Kalati et al., 2018 | -RCT | EG:40 | EG: oral capsule EPO 1000 two times daily | 40 weeks gestation (7 days) | -Bishop score |
| -triple blind | CG:40 | CG: oral capsule placebo two times daily | -Duration of pregnancy and labor phases | ||
| -two arms | |||||
| Zahran 2009 | -RCT | EG:120 | EG: oral capsule EPO 1000 two times daily | 10 days | -The frequency of successful induction |
| -double blind | CG:120 | CG: oral capsule placebo two times daily | -Bishop score | ||
| -two arms | - Cesarean rate | ||||
| -The time from first dose to active labor | |||||
| -Induction-to-delivery interval | |||||
| -Duration of labor | |||||
| -Neonatal outcomes | |||||
| Ty-torredes et al., 2006 | -RCTa | EG:38 | EG: oral capsule EPO 1500 mg three times daily | Full-term pregnancy (1 week) | -Bishop score |
| -Double blind | CG:33 | CG: oral capsule placebo three times daily | |||
| -two arm | |||||
| Dove et al., 1999 | -RCTa | EGb:54 | EG: Oral EPO capsule three times daily | 1 week | -length of labor |
| -Double blind | CGc:54 | CG: Oral EPOd capsule placebo three times daily | -Incidence of postdate induction, -Prolonged ROM | ||
| -two arms | -Cesarean, vacuum, NVD in 14 days | ||||
| -Apgar scores | |||||
| -Neonatal body weight |
a
RCT = Randomized Controlled Trial.
b
EG: Experimental group.
c
CG: Control group.
d
EPO = Evening Primrose Oil.