Thousands of miscarriages each year could be prevented with hormone therapy

A study undertaken by the University of Birmingham and Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage has suggested that more than 8,400 miscarriages each year in the UK could be prevented with a daily hormonal capsule.

Experts say that women with a history of miscarriage or early bleeding in pregnancy could benefit from progesterone, which is naturally secreted by the placenta and ovaries during early pregnancy and is essential for boosting the immune system and maintaining the lining of the womb in expectant mothers.

During the study, the hormone was given twice daily to thousands of mothers who had either had three or more miscarriages or were suffering with vaginal bleeding. The birth rates improved up to five per cent, suggesting that around 8,450 babies could be saved each year in the UK.

Dr Adam Devall, who co-authored the study, said the role of progesterone in the management and treatment of high risk pregnancies had been debated for ’60 years’.

He said “The role of first trimester progesterone supplementation in the treatment of pregnancies at high risk of miscarriage is a long standing research question that has been debated in medical literature for over 60 years.

“Thus far, policy makers have been unable to make evidence-based recommendations on the use of progesterone supplementation to improve outcomes.

“The PRISM and PROMISE trials found a small but positive treatment effect, dependent on the number of previous miscarriages.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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