New Study Shows Promise For Preventing Preterm Births

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Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 16 Dec 2011 - 1:00 PST

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A new study co-authored by the University of Kentucky's Dr. John O'Brien found that applying vaginal progesterone to women who are at a high risk of preterm birth significantly decreased the odds of a premature delivery.

The new study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, described a two-prong strategy used by doctors: participating pregnant women underwent a measurement of the cervical length via transvaginal cervical ultrasound to define risk for preterm birth; and those found to have a short cervix were successfully treated with vaginal progesterone. A short cervix defined as a length of 25 millimeters or less is a major risk factor for preterm birth.

Approximately 12.9 million births worldwide are preterm which is defined as less than 37 weeks of gestation. The United States has the highest rate of preterm births in the world. "Early" preterm births -- those less than 32 weeks -- are associated with a high rate of neonatal complications and long-term neurologic disability. "Late" preterm births (between 34 and 36-6/7 weeks) represent 70 percent of all preterm births; and although they have a lower rate of complications than early preterm births, they are still a major health care problem.

The study showed that the vaginal application of progesterone gel significantly reduces the rate of preterm birth in women at less than 33 weeks of gestation, but also is effective at less than 28, 32 and 35 weeks. This means that vaginal progesterone reduces both "early" and "late" preterm births.

Vaginal progesterone administered to women with a short cervix detected via ultrasound also reduced the rate of admissions to the newborn intensive care unit; respiratory distress syndrome; the need for mechanical ventilation; and a composite score of complications that included intracranial hemorrhage, bowel problems, respiratory difficulties, infection and death.

O'Brien, division chief of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at UK, says the progesterone treatment is safe because the natural pregnancy hormone is the made by the placenta and the ovaries during pregnancy.

"For too long, little progress has been made in the prevention of premature births," said O'Brien. "However, this new large study shows that it's possible to both help women determine if they are at risk for preterm birth, and provide a safe and effective treatment to help prevent preterm births."

Additional References Citations Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Source: University of Kentucky
Visit our pregnancy / obstetrics section for the latest news on this subject. University of Kentucky Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

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University of Kentucky. "New Study Shows Promise For Preventing Preterm Births." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 16 Dec. 2011. Web.
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Visitor Opinions In Chronological Order (1)FDA Committee Meetingposted by Meghan S on 19 Dec 2011 at 6:32 am

There is an important FDA meeting on progesterone gel happening next month on January 20. An FDA committee is meeting to discuss a pending new drug application to approve the drug.

It’s important to share personal preterm birth experiences with the panel so they know what a difference this medicine will make. People can either submit written remarks by January 10 or they can request to make a formal presentation at the meeting in Washington DC by January 3.

Below is the contact information and blurb from the FDA about public contributions.

FDA Meeting: http://www.fda.gov/AdvisoryCommittees/Calendar/ucm279859.htm

FDA Contact Person:
Kalyani Bhatt, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug
Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 31, rm. 2417, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002
301-796-9001, FAX: 301-847-8533,
email: ACRHD@fda.hhs.gov, or FDA Advisory
Committee Information Line, 1-800-741-8138 (301-443-0572 in the Washington, DC area)

Public Section:
"Interested persons may present data, information, or views, orally or in writing, on issues pending before the committee. Written submissions may be made to the contact person on or before January 10, 2012. Oral presentations from the public will be scheduled between approximately 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Those individuals interested in making formal oral presentations should notify the contact person and submit a brief statement of the general nature of the evidence or arguments they wish to present, the names and addresses of proposed participants, and an indication of the approximate time requested to make their presentation on or before January 3, 2012."

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