Low saliva progesterone concentrations are associated with spontaneous early preterm labour (before 34 weeks of gestation) in women at increased risk of preterm delivery

• Published in: BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Vol. 116; no. 11; pp. 1515 - 1519
• Main Authors: Lachelin, GCL, McGarrigle, HHG, Seed, PT, Briley, A, Shennan, AH, Poston, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.10.2009; Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Estriol - analysis; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Labour; Medical sciences; Obstetric Labor, Premature - diagnosis; Obstetrics; oestriol; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Premature Birth - diagnosis; Premature labor; preterm; Progesterone; Progesterone - analysis; Risk Assessment; Risk factors; saliva; Saliva - chemistry; Sensitivity and Specificity; Human; Pregnancy disorders; Gynecology; Spontaneous; Premature delivery; Concentration; Obstetrics; Gestational age; Progestagen; Prematurity; Risk factor; Female; Early; Progesterone; Woman; Sex steroid hormone; Saliva
• ISSN: 1470-0328; 1471-0528
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2009.02293.x

Saliva progesterone and oestriol concentrations were determined weekly from 24 weeks of gestation in women at increased risk of preterm delivery. Samples were analysed from 28 women with spontaneous onset of labour and delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, and 64 who delivered at term. Saliva progesterone was lower in the 12 women delivering before 34 weeks than in those delivering later, between 34 and 37 weeks (P = 0.007) or at term (P = 0.009). Measurement of saliva progesterone may be of value in the prediction of early preterm labour and in determining which women might benefit from progesterone supplementation.