Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Probiotics for preventing preterm labour.

M Othman1, J P Neilson, Z Alfirevic

  • 1University of Liverpool, Division of Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, First Floor, Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust, Crown Street, Liverpool, UK, L8 7SS. m.s.othman@liv.ac.uk

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|January 27, 2007
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Effect of coumarin on carrion decomposition and its secondary bioaccumulation in Chrysomya rufifacies larvae.

Tropical biomedicine·2025
Same author

Modified Delphi study of ultrasound signs associated with placenta accreta spectrum.

Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·2023
Same author

Prenatal exome sequencing and impact on perinatal outcome: cohort study.

Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·2022
Same author

Treatment of mature landfill leachate in tropical climate using membrane bioreactors with different configurations.

Chemosphere·2022
Same author

ISUOG Practice Guidelines (updated): performance of the routine mid-trimester fetal ultrasound scan.

Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·2022
Same author

The prevalence of Schmorl's nodes in osteoporotic vs normal patients: a Middle Eastern population study.

Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA·2022
Same journal

Interventions to prevent or cease electronic cigarette use in children and adolescents.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Drugs to improve anaemia, quality of life, and physical function in people with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Interventions for smoking cessation in inpatient psychiatry settings.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Mechanical thromboprophylaxis for preventing intradialytic hypotension in people undergoing maintenance haemodialysis.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Prognostic models for predicting intensive care unit admission or mortality in critically ill adults not yet been admitted to the intensive care unit.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Views and experiences of weight management for people living with mobility‑limiting conditions, intellectual disabilities or severe mental illness: a qualitative evidence synthesis.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
See all related articles

Probiotics may effectively treat vaginal infections in pregnant women, reducing risk by 81%. However, more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness in preventing preterm birth and related complications.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Microbiology
  • Perinatology

Background:

  • Preterm birth is a leading cause of neonatal mortality, with maternal infections increasing the risk of preterm labor.
  • Probiotics, live microorganisms conferring health benefits, can combat pathogens and modulate immune responses.
  • Local vaginal treatments with probiotics may offer a safe alternative for preventing preterm labor during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the efficacy and safety of probiotics in preventing preterm labor and birth.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was conducted using the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register.
  • Trials involving pregnant women or those planning pregnancy, using probiotics for urogenital infections, were included.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Data extraction and analysis were performed using standard review methodology.

    • Main Results:

    • Two trials were included in the review, with one ongoing study excluded from analysis.
    • One trial used oral probiotics, while the other used vaginal yogurt for bacterial vaginosis.
    • Probiotics demonstrated an 81% reduction in genital infections (RR 0.19; 95% CI 0.08 to 0.48).

    Conclusions:

    • Probiotics show promise in treating vaginal infections during pregnancy.
    • Current data are insufficient to determine the impact of probiotics on preterm birth rates and complications.