Prelabour rupture of the membranes

1. Big picture

Prelabour rupture of membranes (PROM) means the “waters break” before regular uterine contractions begin. The examiner wants one central idea:

PROM management is a balance between infection risk and prematurity risk.

So every answer should start with:

Confirm rupture → determine gestational age → check mother/fetus → exclude infection, cord prolapse, abruption, malpresentation → decide induction/delivery vs expectant management.

PROM at term is mainly an infection-prevention and induction decision. Preterm PROM is mainly a prematurity-versus-infection decision.