membranes that occurs before 37 weeks gestation, and it can have multiple effects on the fetus such as increasing their risk of prematurity and facing neonatal or perinatal complications. Risk factors of pregnancies with PPROM include race (black patients are at increased risk), low socioeconomic status, history of sexually transmitted disease, distension of the uterus (which may result from factors such as excessive amniotic fluid (polyhydramnios) or carrying more than one fetus (multifetal pregnancy)), and tobacco smoking. AROM: artificial rupture of membranes. This term describes a rupture of the membranes by a third party, usually a midwife or obstetrician, in order to induce or accelerate labor. Detection Detection of rupture of membranes mainly include: Pooling test: visualization of amniotic fluid pooling in the vagina Nitrazine paper test Fern test Amniotic fluid index For results to be roughly 90% accurate in infection detection, a combination of both an arborization test and nitrazine paper test may be used. An arborization test assesses the patient's vaginal secretions, while a nitrazone paper test uses the nitrazine paper to examines vaginal pH. References External links Merck Manual: Premature rupture of membranes Obstetrics Midwifery