Vaginally administered progesterone for threatened pregnancy loss :- Medznat
EN | RU
EN | RU

Help Support

By clicking the "Submit" button, you accept the terms of the User Agreement, including those related to the processing of your personal data. More about data processing in the Policy.
Back

New guidelines recommend progesterone for preventing miscarriage in high-risk pregnancies

Threatened pregnancy loss Threatened pregnancy loss
Threatened pregnancy loss Threatened pregnancy loss

What's new?

Progesterone treatment reduces miscarriage risk in women with first-trimester bleeding and a history of recurrent pregnancy loss, with the greatest benefit seen in those with 3 or more previous miscarriages.

 

Danish medical authorities have introduced new guidelines advocating vaginal micronized progesterone (steroid hormone) for pregnant women experiencing first-trimester bleeding, particularly those with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss (also called spontaneous or involuntary abortion). The recommendations aim to minimize miscarriage risk by offering targeted hormonal support during early pregnancy.

Who Should Receive Progesterone?

The guidelines categorize women based on their history of pregnancy loss:

  • High-Risk Group (Recommended Treatment): Women with 3 or more previous miscarriages who experience vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy must get 400 mg vaginal micronized progesterone twice daily. Treatment must begin as soon as bleeding commences and continue until at least the 12th week, up to a maximum of 16 weeks. Studies show the strongest benefit in this group.
  • Moderate-Risk Group (Consider Treatment): Women with 1 or 2 prior miscarriages may be considered for progesterone, depending on individual risk factors such as gestational age at previous miscarriages, maternal age, and other underlying ailments. While some evidence substantiates its use, the benefit is less conclusive than in the high-risk group.
  • Low-Risk Group (Not Recommended): Women with no history of miscarriage are unlikely to benefit from progesterone, as research does not illustrate a substantial reduction in miscarriage risk for this group.

How Should Progesterone Be Used?

For eligible women, the guideline recommends:

  • Dosage: 400 mg micronized progesterone
  • Administration: Vaginally, twice daily
  • Start Time: As soon as first-trimester vaginal bleeding occurs
  • Duration: Continue treatment until at least the 12th week and up to the 16th week


Vaginal administration is preferred over oral or injectable progesterone because it delivers higher hormone levels directly to the uterus while minimizing systemic side effects.

Benefits and Risks

Clinical studies indicate that progesterone supplementation boosts pregnancy continuation rates in high-risk women. The treatment is generally well-tolerated, though few women may experience mild vaginal irritation, dizziness, or fatigue. Notably, research confirms that progesterone does not escalate the risk of birth defects or fetal abnormalities.

Why is This Important?

Threatened miscarriage—defined as vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy—is a common concern, often arousing substantial anxiety. While progesterone has been debated as a potential treatment, newer evidence supports its usage in women with a history of recurrent fetal loss.

Experts hope that these updated guidelines will help curtail miscarriage rates and offer a clear therapeutic strategy for high-risk pregnancies.

Source:

Danish Medical Journal

Article:

Treatment of threatened pregnancy loss

Authors:

Anna Maria Kastner et al.

Comments (0)

You want to delete this comment? Please mention comment Invalid Text Content Text Content cannot me more than 1000 Something Went Wrong Cancel Confirm Confirm Delete Hide Replies View Replies View Replies en ru
Try: