Maternal and Pregnancy Outcomes Following Vaginal Progesterone Use in Threatened Preterm Labour: A Descriptive Case Series: Maternal, Pregnancy Outcomes and Vaginal Progesterone in Threatened Preterm Labour

Hira Sial; Huma Afridi; Hafsa Mubashir; Faryal Azhar

doi:10.54393/pjhs.v7i10.4244

Authors

Hira Sial Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sialkot Medical College and Hospital, Sialkot, Pakistan
Huma Afridi Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sialkot Medical College and Hospital, Sialkot, Pakistan
Hafsa Mubashir Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sialkot Medical College and Hospital, Sialkot, Pakistan
Faryal Azhar Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sialkot Medical College and Hospital, Sialkot, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v7i10.4244

Keywords:

Preterm Birth, Threatened Preterm Labour, Vaginal Progesterone, Pregnancy Prolongation, Tocolysis

Abstract

Threatened preterm labour is a key contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Progesterone supplementation has been investigated for its role in prolonging pregnancy and reducing the risk of preterm birth. Objectives: To share insights into pregnancy prolongation among women receiving vaginal progesterone at a tertiary care hospital and to examine how these outcomes vary across demographic and clinical groups. Methods: This descriptive case series was carried out at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Imran Idrees Teaching Hospital, Sialkot, from August 2025 to January 2026. A total of 100 pregnant women aged 18–45 years with parity <5 and gestational age between 28 and 36 weeks presenting with threatened preterm labour were recruited using consecutive non-probability sampling. All participants received 200 mg natural micronized progesterone vaginally once daily until delivery. Delivery beyond 36 completed weeks was considered a favorable pregnancy prolongation outcome. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Results: The mean maternal age was 32.13 ± 8.41 years, while the mean gestational age at presentation was 32.11 ± 2.22 weeks. Delivery beyond 36 weeks of gestation was observed in 76% of participants (95% CI: 66.6%–83.5%). No significant statistical association was identified between pregnancy prolongation outcomes and “maternal age, body mass index, cervical dilatation, gestational age at presentation”, parity, lifestyle status, anemia, diabetes, hypertension, previous preterm labour, or antepartum haemorrhage (p>0.05). Conclusions: A majority of women receiving vaginal progesterone delivered beyond 36 weeks of gestation. Due to the descriptive single-arm design, causal conclusions regarding treatment effectiveness cannot be established.

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