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Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare between vaginal progesterone and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) in the prevention of preterm labor in patients with a short cervix. Background Preterm birth (PTB) is defined by the WHO as onset of labor before 37 completed weeks of gestation. The incidence of PTB is variably reported between 5 and 11% of all births, and its prevention continues to remain elusive, with many reports indicating an increase in the prevalence of PTB over recent years. Patients and methods One hundred fifty pregnant women were arranged in three groups: placebo group; the CCB group, in which patients received nifedipine 20 mg four times daily; and the progesterone group, in which patients received 200 mg of micronized vaginal progesterone daily. Results There were statistically significant differences between progesterone and CCB regarding the prevention of PTB and treatment of PTB, with a P value of 0.000; a higher number of women experienced improvement in the progesterone group, with 60% of women having no PTB and only 6% having very early preterm birth. Conclusion Vaginal progesterone was better than nifedipine in the prevention and treatment of PTB in women with a short cervix.

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