Bishop score
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Bishop score, also Bishop’s score, is a pre-labour scoring system to assist in predicting whether induction of labour will be required.[1]
Components
The total score is achieved by assessing the following five components on vaginal examination:
They can be remembered with the mnemonic: Call PEDS For Parturition = Cervical Postion, Effacement, Dilation, Softness; Fetal Station.
Scoring
Each components is given a score of 0-2 or 0-3. The highest possible score is 13.
| Parameter\Score | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Posterior | Intermediate | Anterior | – |
| Consistency | Firm | Intermediate | Soft | – |
| Effacement | 0-30% | 40-50% | 60-70% | 80% |
| Dilation | <1 cm | 1-2 cm | 2-4 cm | >4 cm |
| Fetal station | -3 | -2 | -1, 0 | +1, +2 |
Interpretation
A score of 5 or less suggests that labour is unlikely to start without induction. A score of 9 or more indicates that labour will most likely commence spontaneously.[2]
A low Bishop’s score often indicates that induction is unlikely to be successful[3]. Some sources indicate that only a score of 8 or greater is reliably predictive of a successful induction.
Modified Bishop score
According to the Modified Bishop’s pre-induction cervical scoring system, effacement has been replaced by cervical length in cm, with scores as follows- 0>3cm, 1>2cm, 2>1cm, 3>0cm.[4]
References
- ↑ Bishop EH. 1964. Pelvic scoring for elective induction. Obstetrics and Gynecology 24:266.
- ↑ Tenore J (2003). “Methods for cervical ripening and induction of labor”. Am Fam Physician. 67 (10): 2123–8. PMID 12776961. (Incomplete) Free Text.
- ↑ http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=2381313
- ↑ Dutta DC. Text Book of Obstetrics. 6ed. New Central Book Agency. 2001. ISBN 978-8173811425.
See also
© 2026 MyEClinic – IFTM Institut für Telematik in der Medizin GmbH