Assessing the likelihood of neurodevelopmental conditions after birth with oxytocin: A living systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

Oxytocin is often used to induce and augment labor as it can stimulate uterine contractions. Some research has suggested that perinatal exposure to exogenous oxytocin may directly or indirectly increase the likelihood of neurodevelopmental conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism. However, the evidence for this link has been mixed, with a 2019 meta-analysis concluding there is insufficient evidence to warrant calls to modify current induction procedures. This document is a protocol for a living meta-analysis on the likelihood of neurodevelopmental conditions after birth with oxytocin, which will provide an up-to-date synthesis of available evidence and provide the starting point for future updated meta-analyses.