Background: This study has been designed to evaluate the effects of Atropine on improving dilatation of cervix and promoting the progression of labor course in active phase of primiparus women referring to Shahid Sodughi Hospital of Yazd in 2006.

Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 200 pregnant primiparus women were enrolled into two groups. One hundred normal primiparus ladies recieved one ml of intravenous atropine as case group and 100 women received nothing as control group, randomly. Placebo was given to both groups in active phase. Finally, the effect of atropine on Friedman curve, dilatation of cervix and progression of labor course was evaluated. The statistical analysis was done using t-test, Chi square and Fisher exact tests.

Results: The mean time from drug administration to full dilation of the cervix was 2.05 h in the case group and 2.39 h in the control group (P<001). In addition, the mean time of labor was 4.96 h in the case group and 6.12 h in the control group. Cesarean delivery in the case and control groups was 3% and 9%, respectively. In the case group, 49% of women complained of thirst, 29% had increased heart rate, 1% complained of urinary retention, and 21% showed no obvious complication.

Conclusion: Atropine not only decreases the active phase of labor but also decrease the rate of cesarean.