# What is the Bishop score?

Adds up the five parts of the Bishop score (Bishop 1964) from a cervical exam to a total of 0 to 13, and shows whether the cervix counts as favorable or unfavorable for induction of labor.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/health/bishop-score-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/health/bishop-score-calculator.json
- Version: da74e5c01202

## Default answer

Example with the default inputs (Dilation 1 to 2 cm (1), Effacement 40 to 50% (1), Station −2 (1), Consistency Medium (1), Position Mid (1)): The Bishop score is 5 out of 13: Unfavorable.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| dil | Dilation | How far the cervix is open. |
| eff | Effacement | How thinned the cervix is, in percent. |
| sta | Station | Where the baby’s head sits relative to the ischial spines, −3 to +2. |
| con | Consistency | How firm the cervix feels. |
| pos | Position | Where the cervix points. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| score | Bishop score | The total of the five parts, 0 to 13. |
| cervix | Cervix | Favorable (over 8), unfavorable (5 or less), or between the two (6 to 8). |

## Method

Bishop score = dilation (0 to 3) + effacement (0 to 3) + station (0 to 3) + consistency (0 to 2) + position (0 to 2). Over 8 favorable, 5 or less unfavorable.

## Assumptions

- Bishop studied women who had given birth before (multiparous) at term, with the baby head down.
- The page shows the score and what the sources say it means. It does not decide whether or how to induce labor.

## Worked examples

1. dil = 1, eff = 1, sta = 1, con = 1, pos = 1 gives score = 5, cervix = Unfavorable. Source: Wheeler 2022 table (from Bishop 1964): 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 5, 5 or less is unfavorable ().
2. dil = 3, eff = 3, sta = 3, con = 2, pos = 2 gives score = 13, cervix = Favorable. Source: Bishop 1964: the highest score, 3 + 3 + 3 + 2 + 2 = 13.
3. dil = 2, eff = 2, sta = 2, con = 2, pos = 1 gives score = 9, cervix = Favorable. Source: Bishop 1964: 9 or more; Wheeler 2022: over 8 is favorable.
4. dil = 2, eff = 2, sta = 2, con = 1, pos = 1 gives score = 8, cervix = Between the cutoffs. Source: Wheeler 2022 cutoffs: 8 is not over 8 and not 5 or less.
5. dil = 0, eff = 0, sta = 0, con = 0, pos = 0 gives score = 0, cervix = Unfavorable. Source: Bishop 1964: the lowest score is 0 ().

## FAQ

### What is the Bishop score?

A score of how ready the cervix is for labor, published by Edward Bishop in 1964. It adds points for dilation, effacement, the baby’s station, and the consistency and position of the cervix, for a total of 0 to 13.

### What is a favorable Bishop score?

Over 8. Bishop found that induction succeeded when the score was 9 or more, and a 2022 review in American Family Physician calls a score over 8 favorable and 5 or less unfavorable.

### What about a score of 6 to 8?

It falls between the two cutoffs in the review. The page shows it as between the cutoffs and does not grade it either way.

### What does station mean?

How far down the baby’s head is, measured in cm from the ischial spines of the pelvis: −3 is high, 0 is level with the spines, and +1 or +2 is below them.

### Who did Bishop study?

Women who had given birth before (multiparous), at term, being considered for elective induction. Later use extended the score to first births, where the same score may predict less well.

### Is there a modified Bishop score?

Yes, several versions change the parts, for example using cervical length in place of effacement. This page uses the original five parts.

## Sources

- Bishop EH. Pelvic scoring for elective induction. Obstet Gynecol. 1964;24:266-268. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14199536/ (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- Wheeler V, Hoffman A, Bybel M. Cervical ripening and induction of labor. Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(2):177-186, Table 2 (adapted from Bishop 1964). https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2022/0200/p177.html (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- Kuba K, et al. Placenta Reprod Med. 2023;2:8 (quotes Bishop’s cutoff of 9 or more). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10500565/ (retrieved 2026-10-05)