Vaginal Progesterone for Prevention of Preterm Birth After an Episode of Preterm Labor
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2015-03-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The investigators study objective is to investigate the effectiveness of vaginal micronized
progesterone in prolonging pregnancy after an episode of preterm labor which responded to
tocolytic treatment. Furthermore, the investigators aim is to study the mechanisms of actions
of progesterone supplementation by examining its effect on the two components of parturition:
cervical ripening and myometrial contractility. The investigators will utilize transvaginal
ultrasound to assess the changes in the cervical tissue, and non-invasive trans-abdominal
uterine EMG to assess the uterine muscle activity. The investigators will also look at the
effect of progesterone on contraction frequency by tocodynamometer (TOCO), though EMG is
expected to provide much more information.