About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline

30 Issues L. & Med. 159 (2015)
The Use of Isomolecular Progesterone in the Support of Pregnancy and Fetal Safety

handle is hein.journals/ilmed30 and id is 167 raw text is: 










          The Use of Isomolecular

  Progesterone in the Support of

      Pregnancy and Fetal Safety
      Thomas W Hilgers, M.D., Dip ABOG, ABLS, SRS, CFCMC;*
Catherine E. Keefe, M.D., Dip ABOG; Kristina A. Pakiz, M.D., Dip ABOG


                                Introduction
     Progesterone support in pregnancy has been in use for over 60 years, having
received its start in the 1940s. Its initial use was in patients who had habitual spon-
taneous abortion caused by luteal phase deficiency More recently, the administration
of progesterone later in pregnancy has been considered to be justified because of an
observed decrease in circulating progesterone with the onset of labor,' an association
of premature labor with decreased progesterone concentrations,2 and the observation
that progesterone has a tocolytic effect.'
     A considerable boost to the use of progestational agents to reduce preterm delivery
was received with the publication of two papers which showed a sigificant reduction in
preterm delivery rates with the prophylactic administration of either progesterone or 17-a
hydroxyprogesterone caproate. Recently it has been shown, however, that its use is not
universal.4 This may be related to the significant late sequelae that were documented
following the in utero exposure of the fetus to the potent steroid diethylstilbestrol (DES)
and that this bad experience cast a long shadow,5 In spite of this, the use of proges-

   * Clinical Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Creighton University School of Medi-
cine; Director Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction, Omaha, NE
   Turnbull A, Patten P, Flynt A, Keirse J, Jeremy J, Anderson A: Significant Fall in Progesterone and Rise
in Estradiol Levels in Human Peripheral Plasma Before Onset of Labor. Lancet 1974; i: 101.
   2 Csapo A, Pohanka 0, Kaihola H: Progesterone Deficiency and Premature Labour. Br MedJ 1974;
i:137.
   3Ferre F Usan M, Janssen SY: Oral Administration of Micronized Natural Progesterone in Late Human
Pregnancy: Effects on Progesterone and Estrogen Concentrations in the Plasma, Placenta and Myometri-
um. AmJ Obset Gynec 1985; 148:26.
   1 Ness A, Dias T, Damus K, et al: Impact of the Recent Radomized Trials on the Use of Progesterone to
Prevent Preterm Birth: A 2005 Follow-up Survey AmJ Obstet Gynec 2006; 195:1174.
   Green MF: Progesterone and Preterm Delivery - Deji Vu All Over Again. N Engl J Med 2003;
348:2453.

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

profiles profiles most