Bishop Score Calculator

Select the appropriate values to determine cervical favorability.

Cervical dilationCM

Cervical length / effacementCM / % · approximate paired bands

Cervical consistency

Cervical position

Fetal station

Total score

—of 13

Complete the assessment

Select one finding in every row before interpreting the score.

Kenya MoH: favourable from 6; base score, modifiers not applied.

Review and copy assessment

Complete the required assessment to enable copying.

Guidance and sources

Kenya MoH interpretation · supplementary international references are identified below.

Purpose and limits

The Bishop score describes cervical readiness. The indication, not the score alone, determines whether to induce or continue observation. A high score does not guarantee vaginal birth; a low score must not delay medically indicated delivery.

Pre-requisites and precautions

Confirm the indication, reliable gestational age, consent and suitability for vaginal birth.
Review presentation, head stability, fetal weight, membranes, parity, uterine scar, maternal observations and fetal status.
Avoid digital examination when contraindicated, including suspected placenta praevia or unexplained bleeding pending obstetric assessment.
Use the facility induction protocol with maternal-fetal monitoring and emergency caesarean capability. This calculator does not prescribe medicines or doses.

What the total points mean

Clinical interpretation uses the Kenyan favourable threshold. The source table labels 6–13 favourable and 1–5 unfavourable; the calculator also classifies a completed zero score as unfavourable. Clinician-applied modifiers are separate from this base result.

Bishop score interpretation and next actions
Score	Interpretation	Next actions
0 - 5	Unfavourable cervix	Consider cervical ripening when induction is indicated, according to contraindications and facility protocol.
6 - 13	Favourable cervix	Select the induction method after a complete maternal-fetal assessment and consent.

NICE uses ≤6 versus >6 for induction-method selection; supplementary traditional-score literature also uses different thresholds. These are different interpretation frameworks and do not replace the Kenyan threshold here.

How points are assigned

Select one finding in each of five rows. Press a selected finding again to return it to unanswered. An incomplete assessment cannot be interpreted or copied.

Cervical dilation: Closed: 0 points; 1–2 cm: 1 point; 3–4 cm: 2 points; >4 cm: 3 points
Cervical length / effacement: >2 cm (~0–30%): 0 points; 1–2 cm (~40–50%): 1 point; 0.5–1 cm (~60–70%): 2 points; <0.5 cm (~≥80%): 3 points
Cervical consistency: Firm: 0 points; Medium: 1 point; Soft: 2 points
Cervical position: Posterior: 0 points; Central: 1 point; Anterior: 2 points
Fetal station: −3: 0 points; −2: 1 point; −1 or 0: 2 points; +1 or +2: 3 points

Remaining cervical length and percentage effacement are approximate paired descriptions, not exact conversions. Use one examination basis and the facility scoring table for borderline or discordant findings. The >4 cm dilation band is sometimes charted as ≥5 cm when whole centimetres are used.

Clinician-applied adjustments

The Kenyan modified-score note adds 1 for pre-eclampsia and each previous vaginal delivery, and subtracts 1 for postdate pregnancy, nulliparity and PPROM. These modifiers are not added automatically and do not change the displayed base total out of 13.

References and source status

The favourable threshold and modifier note were checked against Kenya MoH, National Guidelines on Quality Obstetrics and Perinatal Care, August 2024, page 368. The repository link below provides the older 2022 edition and is labelled accordingly. Source verification is separate from clinical sign-off.