Progesterone Can Help Reduce the Risk of Severe Preterm Birth
Progesterone has been shown to help prevent preterm birth in women with a short cervix.

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The research team at Amsterdam UMC investigated the best treatment for women with a cervical length shorter than 25 mm at the 20-week ultrasound scan. In 25 centres across the Netherlands participated in this study. Women with a short cervix were eligible for randomization between progesterone and pessary. The results of this study show that Progesterone is more effective than a pessary in reducing extreme preterm birth. This study underlines the importance of measuring the length of the cervix during the 20-week ultrasound scan and informing women with a cervix shorter than 25 mm about the possibility of treatment with Progesterone.
No significant difference
For women with a cervical length between 25 mm and 35 mm, there was no significant difference in the number of complications due to preterm birth between the group taking Progesterone and the group using a pessary. "Based on our study, we recommend measuring the length of the cervix of all pregnant women during the 20-week ultrasound. Women with a cervix shorter than 25 mm should be informed about the possibility of treatment with Progesterone," says Pajkrt.
The results of this study are of great importance for the healthcare system and can contribute to the reduction of preterm births and the associated complications. With major consequences for both the individual and for our society,” Pajkrt concludes.
Reference: Dijk CE van, Gils AL van, Zijl MD van, et al. Cervical pessary versus vaginal progesterone in women with a singleton pregnancy, a short cervix, and no history of spontaneous preterm birth at less than 34 weeks’ gestation: open label, multicentre, randomised, controlled trial. BMJ. 2024;384:e077033. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2023-077033
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