Sixty-one women making slow progress in the active phase of spontaneous labour with intact membranes were randomised to oxytocin and amniotomy, amniotomy only or expectant management. The data show that oxytocin significantly increases the rate of cervical dilatation and shortens prolonged labour, when compared with amniotomy alone and expectant management (P = 0.0144 and 0.0006, respectively). The impact on the operative delivery rate and neonatal outcome is difficult to assess due to the small number of relevant adverse outcomes. Women reported higher satisfaction score in the two groups where intervention followed the diagnosis of dysfunctional labour.