Progesterone offers no protection against miscarriage

Risk of miscarriage not reduced by progesterone therapy
The hormone progesterone has a significant influence on the course of pregnancy. A use in women who have already had several abortions, therefore seemed obvious and for decades, appropriate preparations are available to reduce the risk of miscarriage. However, a recent study by a research team led by Professor Arri Coomarasamy of the University of Birmingham concludes that "progesterone therapy in the first trimester of pregnancy does not result in a significantly higher incidence of live birth in women with a history of unexplained recurrent abortions . "

The use of progesterone can not prevent further miscarriage in women who have had multiple miscarriages, according to the disappointing conclusion of the researchers. The use of progesterone to ensure the course of pregnancy with increased risk of miscarriage is therefore meaningless. However, the researchers can not rule out that other positive effects occur. A harmful effect had not been found, write Professor Coomarasamy and colleagues in the "New England Journal of Medicine".

Progesterone therapy does not protect against miscarriage. (Image: Zerbor / fotolia.com)

Risk of miscarriage unchanged
The five-year study involved 836 pregnant women with past unexplained recurrent miscarriages. Of these, 404 women received "vaginal suppositories containing 400 milligrams of micronized progesterone" twice daily and 432 women a placebo with placebo, the researchers explain. The treatment was started immediately after the first positive urine pregnancy test (at the latest in the 6th week of pregnancy) and it was carried out until the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. In the study, the rate of live births was 65.8 percent (262 out of 398 women) in the progesterone group and 63.3 percent (271 out of 428 women) in the placebo group. Thus, there were no significant differences in the risk of miscarriage between the progesterone group and the placebo group.

Progesterone therapy does not meet expectations
"Like many people, we hoped the study would confirm progesterone as an effective treatment," says Professor Arri Coomarasamy. This hope was not fulfilled. However, although the results are disappointing, progesterone therapy may have other beneficial effects, such as "preventing miscarriage in women with early pregnancy bleeding." In addition, the study results also showed that there were no significant negative effects of progesterone treatment on women or their babies, the University of Birmingham reports. (Fp)