Efficacy of phloroglucinol in shortening the first stage of labor: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background Protracted labor is associated with an elevated risk of maternal and fetal complications. Results of randomized controlled trials on the efficacy in labor of phloroglucinol (PHL), a pure antispasmodic drug, are uncertain.Objectives To evaluate whether PHL is effective in shortening the first stage of labor.Search strategy MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, Scopus, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to July...