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Am J Perinatol
DOI: 10.1055/a-2605-7721
Original Article

Progesterone Supplementation After Cerclage Does Not Improve the Preterm Birth Rate

Lauren C. Sayres
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
,
Natalie T. Simon
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
,
Virginia A. Lijewski
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
,
Jeanelle Sheeder
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
,
Shane A. Reeves
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
› Author Affiliations
Funding This project was supported by the PARITY research team of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Colorado, the Colorado Center for Personalized Medicine's Health Data Compass Data Warehouse project, and the National Institutes of Health Colorado Clinical and Translational Science Awards grant number UL1 TR002535. The funding sources had no involvement in the study design; collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; writing of the report; and decision to submit the article for publication.
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Abstract

Objective

The goal of this study is to evaluate whether adjuvant progesterone following cerclage affords a reduction in the rate of preterm delivery.

Study design

This is a retrospective cohort review of all individuals who underwent transvaginal cerclage placement at a tertiary care academic medical center between 2005 and 2021. The rate of delivery prior to 37 weeks and several secondary maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared between patients with and without progesterone supplementation after cerclage. Multivariable regression, subgroup, and matched pairs analyses were performed in order to account for the formulation of progesterone, indication for cerclage, and other potential confounding variables. The study was powered a priori to detect a difference in our primary outcome.

Results

Among 451 patients, there were 163 history-, 135 ultrasound-, and 153 examination-indicated cerclages. Overall, 284 (63%) received adjuvant progesterone. Adjuvant progesterone was associated with an increased rate of preterm delivery before 37 weeks (45 vs. 34%, p = 0.03) with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.78 (95% confidence interval: 1.14 and 2.80) in our multivariable model. The median latency from cerclage placement to delivery was shorter when progesterone was used (119 vs. 139 days, p < 0.001). There was no benefit of adjuvant progesterone when analyzed by formulation of progesterone or indication for cerclage or when analyzing pairs matched based on propensity score matching. There were no differences in secondary outcomes for pregnant patients or their offspring.

Conclusion

Adjuvant progesterone does not decrease the preterm delivery rate and may in fact cause harm by decreasing latency from cerclage to delivery. Maternal and neonatal outcomes do not vary with supplemental progesterone after cerclage. Our data do not support a synergistic benefit of cerclage and postcerclage progesterone.

Key Points

  • There are currently no guidelines for the use of progesterone after cerclage.

  • Adjuvant progesterone does not decrease the preterm birth rate.

  • Secondary maternal and neonatal outcomes do not improve with adjuvant progesterone.

Keywords

prematurity - cervical insufficiency - cerclage - vaginal progesterone - 17-hydroxyprogesterone

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 18 November 2024

Accepted: 11 May 2025

Accepted Manuscript online:
12 May 2025

Article published online:
03 June 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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