Evening primrose oil supplements typically exist in a gel cap form and can be purchased at your local pharmacy or health food stores.
Most people take evening primrose oil capsules orally in doses between to milligrams daily. But women during pregnancy can also administer evening primrose oil as a vaginal capsule or extract its oils and apply it onto the vagina towards the end of pregnancy to induce labor.
This yellow flower is commonly known as evening star or sundrop as it closes during the day and opens at sunset. Traditionally, the Native Americans used these plants for treating bruises and inflammation of the skin. Today, evening primrose oil is also used to treat inflammatory conditions [1] , such as atopic dermatitis and rheumatoid arthritis. Although many midwives and alternative health practitioners worldwide recommend the use of evening primrose oil [2] to believe that it speeds up the ripening of the cervix and shortens labor, its effectiveness has not been well studied.
According to American Family Physician, evening primrose oil may help the cervix soften and thin out [3] in preparation for childbirth. Other studies also show that the linoleic acid and GLA found in evening primrose oil are pre-cursors to anti-inflammatory eicosanoids [4] and may trigger a prostaglandin response in the body, which helps to ripen the cervix and help induce labor.
However, as an anti-inflammatory, prostaglandin release would be decreased. There is currently no evidence strong enough to support the use of evening primrose oil on cervical ripening or on initiating uterine contractions in labor. Still, studies give researchers food for thought. However, a small recent randomised clinical trial published in Nursing Practice Today on the effect of vaginal evening primrose oil on term nulliparous women revealed different results.
The study [6] showed that vaginal use of evening primrose oil containing a daily dose of milligrams starting from week 38 of pregnancy until delivery could be used to ripen the cervix and shorten labor duration.
Although more studies are needed, the use of vaginal evening primrose oil could be a safe and effective way to ripen the cervix during late pregnancy and to induce labor. Not only does it measure the dilation and thinning of the cervix, but also cervical consistency and position, and how high the fetal head is in preparation for childbirth.
More research is needed to understand and evaluate the safety of evening primrose oil fully. At present, we can assess the use of evening primrose oil during pregnancy with only the limited data we have so far. Despite no concrete evidence of efficacy, midwives worldwide apart from the U. Using evening primrose oil may help avoid [6] the need to induce labor medically and help prevent its after-effects.
Evening primrose oil is seen as a natural remedy, is relatively inexpensive, and easy to obtain through the local pharmacy or health food store. It is also generally well tolerated with only minor side effects.
Like many dietary supplements, there is not much research into the long-term effects of taking evening primrose oil. Still, side effects [7] can include headaches and gastrointestinal problems, such as nausea and diarrhea. Although the side effects of evening primrose oil subside once you stop taking the supplement, a study reveals that women taking evening primrose oil during pregnancy may increase pregnancy complications, such as prolonged rupture of membranes [2] , arrest of descent, oxytocin augmentation, and vacuum extraction.
American Family Physician also suggests that evening primrose oil can act as a blood thinner and can affect platelet aggregation [3] , although more research is needed to conclude this further.
You may be feeling anxious about taking supplements or medicines during pregnancy, check out information about over-the-counter medications in pregnancy and is Tylenol safe for pregnancy. You can purchase evening primrose oil in capsules, which can be taken orally, inserted into the vagina, or applied topically to the vagina.
Towards the last days or week of pregnancy, nulliparous women can insert a soft vaginal evening primrose capsule directly into the vagina or extract the oil from the capsules to apply onto the vagina.
However, safety of this regimen is unknown. There is currently no standard dosage of evening primrose oil during pregnancy; however, most women consume up to milligrams per day from week 38 of pregnancy until birth. Never administer before week 37 of your pregnancy as there is a possibility that you may jumpstart preterm labor. Remember, you should always seek professional medical advice before starting any new supplement during any stage of your pregnancy, particularly if you are taking other medications.
He or she can help you weigh the pros and cons to determine whether the supplement is a good option for you. Can Castor Oil Induce Labor? What Is Pitocin Induction? Probably not, according to the latest findings. A randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology found that evening primrose oil had no effect on cervical ripening or speeding up labor.
In fact, some research has shown that taking evening primrose oil during pregnancy is tied to a longer, slower labor. So why do some women and providers swear by it? It could be that women who take evening primrose oil and begin to have contractions shortly afterwards were very close to going into labor anyway.
But a few potential downsides have been noted, including:. Slower labor with more interventions. Taking evening primrose oil during pregnancy is tied to a longer active phase of labor, as well as an increased need for the use of Pitocin or vacuum extraction. Postpartum bleeding problems. Evening primrose oil can have a blood-thinning effect, which could make it harder for blood to clot.
That could increase the risk for postpartum hemorrhage , especially among women with pregnancy conditions like placenta previa. Newborn bleeding problems. Newborns of mothers who take evening primrose oil in the week before giving birth are at higher risk for bleeding into the skin or bruising. But it has been tied to a few potential positives:. Anecdotally, some claim that taking evening primrose oil during pregnancy can help strengthen the uterus for childbirth.
Inducing labor. Some women and providers also say that taking evening primrose oil can help trigger labor. Find out more about natural ways to induce labor and the stages of labor and delivery. BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals.
We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. Bahmani S et al. Kalati, M. Evening primrose oil and labour, is it effective? A randomised clinical trial. Journal of Obstetrics and Gyneacology. Mayo Clinic. Evening primrose. Najafi, M. The effect of vaginal evening primrose on the Bishop score of term nulliparous women. Nursing Practice Today. Shahali, S. The effect of vaginal evening primrose capsule on cervical ripening in nulliparous women with post-term pregnancy: A clinical trial.
Join now to personalize. Photo credit: ThinkStock. What is evening primrose oil? Can I use evening primrose oil to induce labor? Is evening primrose oil safe during pregnancy? How do I take evening primrose oil? Pros and cons of evening primrose oil. Pros and cons of evening primrose oil It's hard to know for sure what the pros and cons of using evening primrose oil during pregnancy are because it hasn't been widely studied.
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