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Obstetrics

Bishop Score Calculator

Assesses cervical readiness for labor induction using five components of the cervical exam.

What is the Bishop Score?

The Bishop Score, described by Edward Bishop in 1964, predicts how likely a cervix is to respond favorably to labor induction. Five components of the cervical exam (and fetal station) are each scored, then summed.

Interpretation

ScoreMeaning
≥8Favorable — induction success rate similar to spontaneous labor
6–7Intermediate
<6Unfavorable — cervical ripening often considered first

References

Bishop EH. Pelvic scoring for elective induction. Obstet Gynecol. 1964.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a low Bishop Score mean?

A score below 6 suggests an unfavorable cervix, where cervical ripening agents are often considered before induction to improve the chance of success.

Is Bishop Score used for spontaneous labor too?

It's mainly used to predict the likelihood of successful induction, not to manage spontaneous labor that's already established.

Who typically performs the exam this score is based on?

A clinician performs a digital cervical exam and assesses fetal station, then scores each component according to the defined criteria.