Prevention And Management Of Preterm Labor

- Individuals, organizations, and governing bodies should work to ensure that research is conducted to provide better knowledge base to guide decisions regarding prevention and improvement of outcomes of preterm labor.

-  Research questions have been identified:

a.      Is a single repeat dose or a single repeat course (2 doses) of maternal corticosteroids more effective than a single course for preterm neonatal outcomes and longer-term outcomes for babies and children, and what is the optimal time interval between completing the initial course (2 doses) and the repeat dose or course?

b.      Does progesterone reduce the risk of preterm birth in women who have risk factors for preterm birth, but do not have a short cervix (cervical length of more than 25 mm) Does progesterone reduce the risk of preterm birth in women who have a short cervix (cervical length of 25 mm or less), but do not have other risk factors for preterm birth?

c.      At what gestation should treatment with prophylactic vaginal progesterone for the prevention of preterm birth be started and stopped? 

d.      What is the clinical effectiveness of prophylactic cervical cerclage alone compared with prophylactic vaginal progesterone alone and with both strategies together for preventing preterm birth in women with a short cervix and a history of spontaneous preterm birth?