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Bishop Score

Cervical readiness for induction of labour.

For healthcare professionalsPregnancy & fertilityv1.1.0

For healthcare professionals / clinical use. Not a self-diagnosis tool.

Your measurements

Dilation
Effacement
Fetal station
Cervical consistency
Cervical position

Calculated on your device. Nothing is sent to a server.

Your result will appear here

Enter your measurements, then press Calculate.

Methodology

Bishop (1964)

Five items, 0–3 or 0–2 points each (0–13)

The criteria for a favourable cervix are not firmly established; many studies have used a traditional score above 8. A 2013 systematic review (Kolkman) found the score a poor predictor of the outcome of induced labour at term.

Who it is for
Pregnant women at term being considered for induction.
Version
1.1.0

How this calculator works

Where the formula comes from

  • Bishop (1964) described a pelvic scoring system for elective induction of labour.[1]

The inputs

  • The score rates cervical dilation, effacement, position and consistency and the station of the fetal head, for a total of 0 to 13.[2]
  • The precise criteria defining a cervix as favourable or unfavourable for induction have not been established; many studies have used a traditional Bishop score above 8 to indicate a favourable cervix.[2]

Versions and alternatives

  • A modified Bishop score uses cervical length instead of effacement, with a maximum of 12; transvaginal ultrasound of cervical length is another approach, with mixed results in comparisons.[2]

Where accuracy falls (published evidence)

  • A 2013 systematic review (40 studies, 13,757 women) found the Bishop score a poor predictor of the outcome of induced labour at term, including caesarean delivery, and concluded it should not be used to decide whether to induce labour.[3]
  • A 2012 meta-analysis of 59 studies found higher scores were associated with achieving vaginal delivery (summary odds ratio 1.33 per point).[4]

Sources

  1. Bishop EH. Pelvic scoring for elective induction. Obstet Gynecol. 1964;24:266–268. PMID 14199536
  2. Wormer KC, Bauer A, Williford AE. Bishop Score. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024. PMID 29261961
  3. Kolkman DG, Verhoeven CJ, Brinkhorst SJ, et al. The Bishop score as a predictor of labor induction success: a systematic review. Am J Perinatol. 2013;30(8):625–630. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1331024
  4. Teixeira C, Lunet N, Rodrigues T, Barros H. The Bishop Score as a determinant of labour induction success: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2012;286(3):739–753. doi:10.1007/s00404-012-2341-3

Compiled from the published sources above. Every statement was agreed independently by three AI research tools (Claude, ChatGPT, DeepSeek) and its source verified in PubMed or Crossref by the Hakeemly editorial team. Not reviewed by a doctor unless stated. Agreed on

Worked example: how to calculate bishop score

Inputs

Dilation
3–4 cm
Effacement
60–70%
Fetal station
−2
Cervical consistency
Soft
Cervical position
Mid

Result

Bishop score
8 of 13

8 or less: less favourable

An illustration with sample values, worked out with the same method the tool above uses.

Limitations

  • Inter-observer variation in cervical examination.
  • A 2013 systematic review found the score a poor predictor of the outcome of induced labour at term and advised against using it alone to decide whether to induce (Kolkman 2013).

References

  1. Bishop EH. Pelvic scoring for elective induction. Obstet Gynecol. 1964;24:266–268.
  2. Kolkman DG, Verhoeven CJ, Brinkhorst SJ, et al. The Bishop score as a predictor of labor induction success: a systematic review. Am J Perinatol. 2013;30(8):625–630. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1331024

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