Membrane sweeping: a gentle nudge for natural labour?
NCT ID NCT07615946
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether membrane sweeping, a simple procedure done during a vaginal exam, can help start labour naturally in women with full-term pregnancies. Researchers compared 214 women who received membrane sweeping with those who had routine care. The goal was to see if it reduces the time to labour onset and the need for medical induction or C-section.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- membrane sweeping (a procedure where a doctor gently separates the membranes around the baby from the uterus during a vaginal exam)
- What this could lead to
- If effective, membrane sweeping could help more women go into labour naturally, reducing the need for medical induction or C-section.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, single-hospital study with 214 participants. The procedure may cause discomfort or spotting, and results may not apply to all pregnancies.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
214 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2025
- Finished
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Jan 2026
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 45 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Singleton pregnancy. * Cephalic presentation. * Gestational age between 38 and 41 weeks. * Intact fetal membranes. * Women with uncomplicated term pregnancy. Exclusion Criteria: * Women unwilling to participate in the study. * Multiple pregnancies. * Mal-presentation. * Placenta previa or placental abruption. * Previous uterine surgery or previous two cesarean sections. * Premature rupture of membranes. * Gestational hypertension or diabetes mellitus. * Severe fetal anomalies. * Active cervical or genital herpes infection. * Contraindications to vaginal delivery. * High-risk pregnancy requiring immediate intervention.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Kharader General Hospital
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.