Bishop Score
Cervical favourability for IOL
Clinician mode
Escalate
0
Unfavourable — needs ripening
- ≤6: prostaglandin (dinoprostone/PGE₂) or mechanical (balloon) ripening.
- ≥8 in multip = spontaneous labour likely within 24 h.
- Avoid PGE₂ after previous CS — mechanical ripening preferred (RCOG).
Reference range
Unfavourable ≤5 · Borderline 6–7 · Favourable ≥8 (total 0–13)
References
Common pitfalls
- Modified Bishop (dilation + effacement + station) is often enough.
- Score changes rapidly — reassess before ARM.