OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of epidural analgesia on the progress and outcome of spontaneous labour in women with a singleton breech presentation at term (greater than or equal to 37 weeks). METHODS A retrospective study. METHODS Data Bank, Aberdeen Maternity Hospital. METHODS 643 women (273 primiparae and 370 multiparae) with a singleton breech presentation and spontaneous onset of labour at term. METHODS Duration of labour; augmentation of labour with oxytocin infusion; caesarean section rates. RESULTS Epidural analgesia was associated with a significantly increased need for augmentation of labour with oxytocin infusion (P less than 0.001) and longer duration of labour (P less than 0.001), irrespective of parity. Comparing women who had epidural analgesia with those who did not, there was no significant difference in caesarean section rates in the first stage of labour in primiparae (odds ratio 1.79; 95% CI 0.88-3.63) or multiparae (odds ratio 0.97; 95% CI 0.48-1.96). Epidural analgesia was associated with a significantly increased likelihood of caesarean section in the second stage of labour, both in primiparae (odds ratio 5.43; 95% CI 2.46-11.95) and multiparae (odds ratio 5.37; 95% CI 2.07-13.87). The increased likelihood of caesarean section in the second stage in primiparae with epidurals was independent of the extent of cervical dilatation (less than 3 cm or greater than or equal to 3 cm) on admission. However, in multiparae with epidurals, the difference in second stage caesarean section rate was significant only when initial cervical dilatation was less than 3 cm (odds ratio 3.65; 95% CI 1.14-11.65). CONCLUSIONS Epidural analgesia was associated with longer duration of labour, increased need for augmentation of labour with oxytocin infusion and a significantly higher caesarean section rate in the second stage of labour.