Progesterone for preventing premature birth: practice patterns of board-certified maternal-fetal medicine specialists in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the current prescription of progesterone to prevent preterm birth (PTB) among board-certified maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists in the United States.


METHODS
A survey of the board-certified MFM specialists in the United States examining their prescription of and attitudes regarding progesterone to prevent PTB 6 months following publication of a National Institute for Child Health and Human Development trial.


RESULTS
Of 1,264 questionnaires sent, 526 were returned (response rate, 42%). After exclusions, 522 surveys remained. One hundred ninety-eight (38%) respondents prescribed progesterone, and 324 (62%) did not. Most nonprescribers were awaiting more data and were more concerned than prescribers about long-term effects (p < 0.0001). Twenty percent of prescribers prescribed progesterone for women with current signs or symptoms of preterm labor.


CONCLUSIONS
As a result of recent evidence, over one third of MFM specialists surveyed have begun prescribing progesterone to prevent PTB. Of these specialists, 20% are using it for indications other than a prior PTB.
Ness
Amen
A
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Biostatistics Section, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, 834 Chestnut Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. amen.ness@jefferson.edu
Baxter
Jason
J
Hyslop
Terry
T
Berghella
Vincenzo
V
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009774:Obstetrics; D010820:Physicians; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011367:Professional Staff Committees; D011374:Progesterone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
D011374:Progesterone