Bishop Score

Cervical favourability before induction of labour

Cervical dilation

Closed

1–2 cm

3–4 cm

≥ 5 cm

Cervical effacement

0–30%

40–50%

60–70%

≥ 80%

Fetal station

−3

−2

−1 or 0

+1 or +2

Cervical consistency

Firm

Medium

Soft

Cervical position

Posterior

Mid

Evidence

Original publication

Bishop EH. Pelvic scoring for elective induction. Scored cervical dilation, effacement, station, consistency, and position; a higher total predicted a shorter interval to delivery and a successful elective induction.

Obstetrics & Gynecology, 1964

Open source

Guideline

ACOG Practice Bulletin 107 (induction of labour) uses the Bishop score to describe cervical favourability: a score ≤ 6 is generally considered unfavourable and supports cervical ripening; ≥ 8 predicts a vaginal-delivery likelihood similar to spontaneous labour.

Last reviewed: 2026-09

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MedScore is an educational and clinical decision-support tool. It does not provide a diagnosis, a treatment, or a drug-dosing recommendation, and it does not replace clinical judgement or local guidelines. Confirm every result against the original source before acting on it. The treating clinician remains responsible for all decisions.