Which medication is typically used to cause uterine contractions during labor?

Oxytocin is a hormone that plays a crucial role during labor by stimulating uterine contractions. It is administered to enhance or induce labor in women who are at or near term. The use of oxytocin helps to coordinate and strengthen contractions, facilitating the progression of labor. This medication can be particularly important in situations where labor needs to be induced for medical reasons or if contractions are weak.

In contrast, nifedipine is a calcium channel blocker primarily used to treat hypertension and angina, and it may have tocolytic effects by relaxing uterine muscles, which is not its primary purpose. Clomiphene is a medication used to treat infertility by stimulating ovulation but does not have a role in stimulating uterine contractions during labor. Raloxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator used mainly to prevent osteoporosis and is not involved in labor or uterine contractions. Therefore, oxytocin stands out as the specific medication utilized for initiating and enhancing uterine contractions during labor.