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Dinoprostone

  • You will only be given this medicine in hospital, on the antenatal or labour ward.
  • Your baby's heart rate will be monitored before and after receiving this medication.

About dinoprostone

Type of medicine Prostaglandin
Used for Induction of labour
Ripening the cervix before labour
Termination of pregnancy
Also called Propess
Prostin E2
Available as Propess pessary with retrieval system
Prostin E2 injection
Prostin E2 vaginal gel
Prostin E2 vaginal tablets

Dinoprostone works by causing the muscle of the cervix to relax and start to dilate. This triggers the muscle of the uterus (womb) to start contracting and labour to begin.

Before using dinoprostone

Before using dinoprostone make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:

  • If you have had a caesarean section in the past.
  • If you have had pelvic inflammatory disease.
  • If you have heart or lung problems.
  • If you have liver or kidney problems.
  • If you have a history of asthma or epilepsy.
  • If you have high blood pressure.
  • If you suffer from glaucoma.
  • If you suffer from hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroxine).
  • If you have had unexplained vaginal bleeding during pregnancy.
  • If you have had multiple pregnancies.
  • If you have had more than five full-term pregnancies.

How to use dinoprostone

  • You will only be given this medicine in hospital, on the antenatal or labour ward.

Getting the most from your treatment

  • Your baby's heart rate will be monitored before and after receiving this medication.
  • Your uterine activity (number and frequency of contractions) will be monitored regularly.
  • The condition of your cervix will be monitored regularly to assess how well it is dilating.
  • You will need to stay sitting/lying down for 30 minutes after the medication is administered.

Can dinoprostone cause problems?

Along with their useful effects all medicines can cause unwanted side effects, which usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side effects continue or become troublesome.

Common side-effects - these affect less than 1 in 10 people who take this medicine What can I do if I experience this
Backache A warm bath may help this.
Contractions Staying active may make the pain more bearable.
Vaginal irritation A warm bath may help this.
Abnormally strong contractions of the womb This will be detected on the ward as your contractions will be monitored regularly.
Problems with the baby's heart rate This will be detected on the ward as the baby's heart rate will be monitored regularly.

How to store dinoprostone

  • Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
  • Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

Important information about all medicines


  • Keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children.
  • Make sure that the person prescribing this medicine knows about any other medicines that you are taking. This includes medicines you buy and herbal and homeopathic medicines.
  • If you buy any medicines check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with your other medicines.
  • Before taking this medicine tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction after taking any medicine.
  • Never take more than the prescribed dose. If you suspect that you or someone else has taken an overdose of this medicine go to the accident and emergency department of your local hospital at once. Always take the container with you, if possible, even if it is empty.
  • If you are having any treatment like an operation or dental treatment tell the person carrying out the treatment which medicines you are taking.
  • Always read the printed information leaflet that comes with your medicine.
  • This medicine is for you. Never give it to other people even if their condition appears to be the same as yours.
  • Never keep out of date or unwanted medicines. Take them to your local pharmacy which will dispose of them for you.
  • If you have any questions about this medicine ask your pharmacist.
© EMIS 2007 DocID:
4076		 DocRef:
dils3923		 Last Updated:
2 May 2007		 Date of Next Review:
1 May 2009		 Version:
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PS - Health and Poverty

Perhaps the biggest cause of ill health in the world is poverty. Help to Make Poverty History. For example, why not lend some of your money to disadvantaged communities to enable them to trade their way out of poverty through schemes such as Shared Interest.

See also MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY North East for details and links to campaigns against poverty.

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