Intravaginal magnesium sulfate as an alternative to intravenous dexamethasone for labor acceleration: first direct comparison in a bayesian adaptive trial

Intravaginal MgSO4 produced cervical effacement and dilation comparable to IV dexamethasone but achieved a significantly greater reduction in labor duration. Given similar neonatal safety outcomes, these findings suggest that intravaginal MgSO4 may be a preferable first-line agent for labor acceleration.