Evaluation of the efficacy of vaginal progesterone in preventing preterm
birth after abdominal trachelectomy: a prospective study with a
historical cohort
Abstract
Objective To determine whether vaginal progesterone (VP) reduces the
rate of preterm birth in pregnant women after abdominal trachelectomy
(AT) for early-stage cervical cancer Design Prospective cohort study
with a historical cohort Setting University hospital Population Twelve
pregnancies in ten women were included in the VP group between October
2016 and September 2020. By contrast, 19 pregnancies in 17 women were
included in the historical control group between January 2007 and
September 2016. Methods For the interventional study participants, the
administration of vaginal progesterone was started between 16+0 and 19+6
weeks of gestation and discontinued at 34 weeks of gestation or at the
time of delivery, rupture of membranes, or massive uterine bleeding,
whichever occurred first. We investigated obstetric and neonatal
outcomes among the study participants and compared them with outcomes of
the historical control group participants. Main Outcome Measures The
gestational age at delivery and incidence of preterm birth before 37
weeks and 34 weeks of gestation Results The incidence of preterm birth
at <37 weeks was 10/12 (83%) in the VP group and 11/19 (58%)
in the control group, and the incidence of preterm birth at
<34 weeks was 6/12 (50%) in the VP group and 9/19 (47%) in
the control group. The incidence of preterm birth in the two groups was
similar, and the difference between the two groups was not statistically
significant. Conclusions The administration of vaginal progesterone did
not reduce the rate of preterm birth among pregnant women after AT.