Birth test.PREGNANT women who have low levels of the hormone progesterone progesterone (prōjĕs`tərōn'), female sex hormone that induces secretory changes in the lining of the uterus essential for successful implantation of a fertilized egg. may be more likely to give birth prematurely, researchers said. A combination of examinations, including a simple saliva test, could be used to pinpoint those women at risk of delivering their baby early, they said. Progesterone plays a central role in helping a woman carry babies to term by stopping the womb from contracting, and supplements could help boost levels of the hormone. The study, from researchers at University College London “UCL” redirects here. For other uses, see UCL (disambiguation). University College London, commonly known as UCL, is the oldest multi-faculty constituent college of the University of London, one of the two original founding colleges, and the first British and King's College London, found that women who gave birth before 34 weeks' gestation had far lower levels of progesterone than those who carried their baby to term. Around 7% of pregnancies in developed countries end in premature birth premature birth Birth less than 37 weeks after conception. Infants born as early as 23–24 weeks may survive but many face lifelong disabilities (e.g., cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness). and the risks are higher for multiple pregnancies and for women over the age of 35. Researchers analysed saliva samples for 28 women who gave birth before 37 weeks and 64 who delivered at term. Saliva progesterone levels were lower in the 12 women delivering before 34 weeks than in those delivering between 34 and 37 weeks. |
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