# Bishop Score Calculator (Cervical Readiness)

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/health/bishop-score/
Last updated: 2026-10-30

> The Bishop score calculator rates how ready the cervix is for labour – dilation, effacement, fetal station, cervical consistency and position – to predict whether induction of labour is likely to succeed.

## Inputs

- Dilation
- Effacement
- Fetal station
- Cervical consistency
- Cervical position

## Results

- Bishop score
- Interpretation

## Formula

```
Score = sum of the points for each item
```

## Explanation

The Bishop score was published in 1964 and is still the standard bedside assessment before induction. A score of 8 or more means the cervix is favourable and the chance of vaginal delivery after induction is similar to spontaneous labour; 6 or less suggests the cervix needs ripening first.

### How to use the Bishop Score Calculator

- **Dilation**
- **Effacement**
- **Fetal station**
- **Cervical consistency**
- **Cervical position**

Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.

### How it works

Each answer carries the points shown in the published score. The calculator adds them up and maps the total to the published interpretation.

### Scoring table

ItemAnswers and pointsDilationClosed = 0; 1–2 cm = 1; 3–4 cm = 2; 5 cm or more = 3Effacement0–30% = 0; 40–50% = 1; 60–70% = 2; 80% or more = 3Fetal station−3 = 0; −2 = 1; −1 or 0 = 2; +1 or +2 = 3Cervical consistencyFirm = 0; Medium = 1; Soft = 2Cervical positionPosterior = 0; Mid-position = 1; Anterior = 2

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterDilationChoose one: Closed, 1–2 cm, 3–4 cm, 5 cm or moreEffacementChoose one: 0–30%, 40–50%, 60–70%, 80% or moreFetal stationChoose one: −3, −2, −1 or 0, +1 or +2Cervical consistencyChoose one: Firm, Medium, SoftCervical positionChoose one: Posterior, Mid-position, Anterior
*Health note: this calculator is for education and screening only and is not a diagnosis or treatment advice. Discuss your results with a qualified clinician.*

## Worked example

Inputs — Dilation: 1–2 cm; Effacement: 40–50%; Fetal station: −2; Cervical consistency: Medium; Cervical position: Mid-position.

Results — **Bishop score = 5 / 13**; Interpretation = Unfavourable cervix – ripening likely needed.

## Key terms

- **Effacement**: Thinning of the cervix.
- **Station**: How far the baby's head has descended in the pelvis.

## FAQ

**What is a good Bishop score for induction?**
8 or more.

**What happens with a low score?**
Cervical ripening with prostaglandins or a balloon catheter is usually used first.

**Does a high score mean labour will start soon?**
It suggests the cervix is ready, but it cannot predict exactly when labour will begin.


## Sources

- [Bishop EH. Pelvic scoring for elective induction. Obstet Gynecol, 1964](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14199536/)
- [ACOG Practice Bulletin 107 – Induction of labor](https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-bulletin)