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Giving Women Progesterone Could Prevent Miscarriage, Says Health Authority

Clinical trials show progesterone as an effective solution to prevent miscarriage for high-risk women who have already had pregnancy losses.

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Tanvi Akhauri
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Offering the hormone progesterone to women at the risk of pregnancy loss could prevent miscarriage and lead to more births, according to new research led by a UK-based health watchdog. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in an update Wednesday said that progesterone - a steroid hormone involved in menstruation and pregnancy - will be effective against miscarriage.
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NICE has simultaneously issued a caution that the progesterone solution is not the be-all and end-all for all women wanting to get pregnant. While at present, it would be suitable to offer the hormone to some women, further research in the area is being carried out. The guidelines recommend inserting progesterone pessaries (prosthetic devices) twice a day into the vagina.

Recognising that it was "devastating" for women to lose pregnancies, NICE's Chief Executive Gillian Leng said the progesterone resolution could help women who "experience bleeding in early pregnancy and who have had at least one miscarriage," as quoted by The Guardian

UK's public-funded healthcare system National Health Service (NHS) will facilitate the accessibility of progesterone to the women who need it.

New Solution To Prevent Miscarriage? Here's What You Should Know

The NICE research suggests the progesterone solution is directly proportionate in effectiveness for women who have already faced a higher number of miscarriages. The BBC quotes an example of a woman who is presently on her sixth pregnancy, having suffered miscarriages on her previous five. At 15 weeks, this is her longest pregnancy so far and the progesterone treatment she is on might be making a difference.

Over 8000 more births could be possible in the UK each year with NICE's recommendation of a progesterone treatment, which would be delivered to women at reasonable, affordable costs.

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NICE's guideline follows research published last year by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists elucidating on the use of the hormone to increase at-risk women's chances of getting pregnant. The report cited clinical trial data backed by the University of Birmingham and Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research.

Dr Pat O’Brien, Vice President of the RCOG, said he hoped NICE would "consider this important research in their next update of the guidance."


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