Publication:

Vaginal progesterone after tocolytic therapy in threatened preterm labour

Background Currently preterm labour is one of the most challenging problem faced by both obstetricians and perinatologists, this episode in the course of woman’s pregnancy takes a heavy tool for perinatal mortality which accounts for approximately 50-75%. The incidence of preterm labour is estimated to be 5-10% of all pregnancies.

Methods It was a prospective randomize control trail over a period of 3 year at department of obstetrics and gynecology, tertiary care hospital Pune, Maharashtra, India. Total 100 subjects were randomized into two groups with group one receiving vaginal micronized progesterone and group two control group receiving only tocolytics and steroids. Subsequently authors compared the safety and efficacy of vaginal micronized progesterone versus placebo as a maintenance therapy in preventing preterm labour.

Results This analysis showed that women who randomized to progesterone prophylaxis had a significantly increase in duration of pregnancy. The mean of birthweight in Group A and Group B was 2963±36 gm and 2567±49 gm and respectively which confirmed the positive effects of progesterone on increasing infants’ weights at birth.

Conclusions Authors concluded that progesterone therapy had acceptable efficacy in the prevention of preterm labor in terms of prolongation of delivery and by increasing gestational age at delivery.