[The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on cervical maturation during pregnancy]. / L'effet du sulfate de déhydroépiandrostérone (S-DHEA) sur la maturation du col utérin pendant la grossesse.

Steroid hormones would have an effect on the duration of pregnancy. Venous blood was drawn in 90 patients who were scheduled for provoked delivery for assay of serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (S-DHEA), oestrogen, progesterone and cortisol. Serum concentration of S-DHEA was significantly higher (p<0.005) in women with a favourable Bishop score (>6) compared with those with an unfavourable score. These findings suggest that a rise in S-DHEA level occurs before modifications in the cervix.