of predicting the onset of fetal membrane rupture in a gestative female comprising the step of assaying a tissue or fluid sample of fetal membrane origin obtained from the female for the presence of metalloproteinase 9 activity the presence of such activity in the sample is a positive indication of the onset of fetal membrane rupture also disclosed is a method of delaying the onset of female membrane rupture in a gestative female comprising the step of administering to the female an mmp 9 inhibitor in an amount effective to delay fetal membrane rupture further disclosed is a method of inducing labor in a gestative female comprising the administration of an mmp 9 activator or mmp 9 itself in an amount effective to induce fetal membrane rupture and thus facilitate the onset of labor application_number US 24681494 A description in a first embodiment according to the present invention a tissue or fluid sample of fetal membrane origin obtained from a gestative female is assayed for the presence of mmp 9 activity wherein the detection of such activity is a positive indication of the onset of fetal membrane rupture to enhance the reliability and accuracy of the method the sample is necessarily of fetal membrane origin the sample can be a tissue e g a biopsy of the membrane or a fluid which is either contiguous to the membrane or otherwise interactive with the membrane in such a way that its biochemical constituency particularly its mmp 9 concentration is fairly representative of the state of the membrane at any given time during gestation examples.