Relationship between β-hCG levels in cervicovaginal secretions and labor

Objective: To determine whether levels of human β-chorionic gonadotropin hormone (β-hCG) in cervicovaginal secretions can predict the labor process. Methods: A total of 150 women admitted in active labor to the urgent delivery unit of a university hospital were enrolled in a prospective study. The β-hCG level of each woman's cervicovaginal secretions was measured by radioimmunoassay on admission; then, β-hCG levels were compared between 2 groups of 35 women, one in whom labor progressed normally and another in whom augmentation of labor with oxytocin was required. Results: There were significant differences in β-hCG levels of cervicovaginal secretions between the spontaneous delivery group and the augmentation of labor group (130.72 ± 64.51 mU/mL vs. 93.9 ± 65.29 mU/mL) (P < 0.05). A receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off value was 82 mU/mL, with a sensitivity of 66% and a specificity of 60%. Conclusion: β-chorionic gonadotropin hormone levels were significantly higher in the cervicovaginal secretions of women whose labor was progressing normally than in those who required augmentation of labor.