Analysis of 150 patients at term (greater than 36 weeks) with premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) was made. In the group followed conservatively, 87.5% (98 of 112) began labor within 48 hours, and only 3.6% (4 of 112) had a latent period of greater than seven days. The incidence of cesarean section in patients with induced and spontaneous labors was compared in corrected groups. The induced group had a 39% (15 of 38) cesarean section rate as compared to 12% (11 of 91) in the spontaneous labor group (p = less than 0.01). None of the patients in the study showed signs of sepsis by central cultures, and only 12.7% (19 of 150) showed febrile morbidity. A conservative approach to term patients with PROM and an unfavorable cervix for induction seems to decrease the incidence of cesarean section.