Hormones!

Hormones!  Some of the best choices in the treatment of various problems including birth control, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, hot flashes, hypoactive sexual response and prevention of preterm delivery are hormones – including estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. All three are present naturally in women, particularly in the reproductive years.

Progesterone is widely used during pregnancy to help prevent preterm delivery in women with a prior spontaneous preterm birth or in women with a short cervix found on ultrasound.

With preterm birth continuing to threaten the health and even life of a newborn, advances in the screening for short cervix combined with recommendations in the use of progesterone have greatly aided in recent years in curtailing the alarming statistics of preterm morbidity and mortality.

Depending on the situation some women are faced with weekly intramuscular injections or daily intravaginal suppositories to help maintain their pregnancy to term.  Close surveillance is essential in all women on progesterone to catch failures early enough for use of lung-maturing steroids and transfer to tertiary care centers.  The providers at Women’s Health Care are happy to answer any questions you have about risk for preterm delivery – particularly in those women at risk who are not yet pregnant.   Call 503-435-2020 to schedule an appointment.

Paid Advertising Column By Kay E. Case, M.D.
Physician and Surgeon, Women's Health Care