[Magnesium in obstetrics and gynecology]

Pregnancy induces a significant decrease of magnesium levels in serum and myometrium of 15%. A 25% increase of magnesium excretion in urine may be the most important reason. Magnesium supplementation during pregnancy seems necessary because it improves maternal health and fetal outcome. Magnesium supplementation reduces the incidence of preterm labour and vaginal haemorrhage. Premature delivery is significantly reduced from 8.2 to 2.8%. Intravenous magnesium application in pharmacological doses is still the therapeutic basis in pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. In gynaecology magnesium relieves premenstrual mood changes and alleviates dysmenorrhoea.