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The long-term effect of prenatal progesterone treatment on child development, behaviour and health: a systematic

N E Simons1, M Leeuw1, J Van't Hooft1

  • 1Department of Obstetrics, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

BJOG : an International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
|October 28, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Prenatal progesterone treatment for preventing preterm birth showed no long-term effects on child development up to age 8. Further research is needed for outcomes after first-trimester exposure.

Area of Science:

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Perinatal Medicine

Background:

  • Progesterone is commonly used in prenatal care to prevent preterm birth.
  • The long-term developmental effects of prenatal progesterone exposure on children are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically evaluate the long-term outcomes in children following prenatal progesterone treatment.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted.
  • Studies compared progesterone treatment during pregnancy to placebo or other interventions.
  • Data from five RCTs involving 4222 children aged 6 months to 8 years were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Meta-analysis of two studies (n=890) found no significant difference in neurodevelopment (Bayley-III Cognitive Composite score at 2 years) between children exposed to prenatal progesterone and placebo.
  • No differences in other long-term outcomes were observed.
  • Heterogeneity limited further meta-analyses.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal progesterone treatment for preterm birth prevention does not appear to confer benefit or harm on child development up to age 8.
  • There is a need for studies investigating the effects of early-pregnancy progesterone administration and longer-term developmental outcomes.
Abstract

Keywords:
DevelopmentFollow uplong-termluteal phase supportpreterm birth preventionprogesteronesystematic review

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