A recent study from Amsterdam UMC reveals that progesterone is more effective than a cervical pessary in reducing the risk of severe preterm birth in pregnant women with a short cervix around 20 weeks of pregnancy. Preterm birth, defined as birth before 37 weeks, remains a significant global health issue, affecting approximately 13.5 million babies each year, with many facing long-term physical and developmental complications. The study, published in The BMJ, focused on women with a cervical length shorter than 25 mm, detected during the 20-week ultrasound scan. The researchers found that progesterone significantly reduced the likelihood of extreme preterm birth compared to the cervical pessary. The study involved 25 centers across the Netherlands, and women with a short cervix were randomized to receive either progesterone or a pessary. The findings emphasize the importance of measuring cervical length during the 20-week ultrasound and offering progesterone as a treatment option for those with a short cervix. However, for women with a cervical length between 25 mm and 35 mm, no significant difference in preterm birth complications was observed between the two treatments. Professor Eva Pajkrt, leading the study, advocates for universal cervical length screening at 20 weeks and informing women with a cervix shorter than 25 mm about the benefits of progesterone treatment. The research highlights the potential to reduce preterm birth rates and improve outcomes for both mothers and babies, offering a promising step forward in obstetrics care.
Ultrasound-Enhanced Progesterone vs. Cervical Pessary for Preventing Preterm Birth
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