Investigating the effect of sweet almond oil vaginal suppository on spontaneous and duration of labor in nulliparous women: A triple-blind clinical trial study.

OBJECTIVE: Various pharmacological, herbal, and mechanical methods have been used to facilitate, However, evidence regarding the effects of vaginal sweet almond oil suppositories on labor outcomes remains limited. This study evaluated their effect on spontaneous labor and the duration of labor stages in nulliparous women at 40 completed weeks of gestation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This triple-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted between July 2023 and January 2024 in Mashhad, Iran. Eligible nulliparous women at 40+0 weeks of gestation received one vaginal suppository daily for up to seven consecutive days. The primary outcome was spontaneous onset of labor while secondary outcomes included the duration of the first, second, and third stages of labor. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Independent-sample t-test, Chi-square test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used, as appropriate. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The rate of spontaneous labor rate was higher in the sweet almond group than in the placebo group (66.7% vs. 40%, P=0.03). The mean duration of the second stage of labor was significantly shorter in the sweet almond group than in the placebo group (P < 0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed in the duration of the active first or third stages of labor (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that vaginal sweet almond oil suppositories may facilitate the onset of labor and shorten the second stage of labor in low-risk nulliparous women at 40+0 weeks of gestation. Larger multicenter trials are warranted to confirm these findings before routine clinical use can be recommended.