Combined oestrogen and progesterone for preventing miscarriage

Abstract

Background Historically, oestrogen and progesterone were each commonly used to save threatened pregnancies. In the 1940s it was postulated that their combined use would be synergistic and thereby led to the rationale of combined therapy for women who risked miscarriage. Objectives To determine the efficacy and safety of combined oestrogen and progesterone therapy to prevent miscarriage.

Higher ꞵ-human chorionic gonadotropin and estrogen levels during the first 6 weeks of pregnancy are associated with threatened abortion

“…A reduction in the rate of spontaneous miscarriage with the use of dydrogesterone was also observed (14). Lower estrogen level was found in women with threatened abortion and historically estrogen was also commonly used to save threatened pregnancies in these women (16,17). However, evidence from randomised controlled trials to assess the use of estrogen and/or progesterone for preventing miscarriages is insufficient (6,13,17,18).…”

“…Lower estrogen level was found in women with threatened abortion and historically estrogen was also commonly used to save threatened pregnancies in these women (16,17). However, evidence from randomised controlled trials to assess the use of estrogen and/or progesterone for preventing miscarriages is insufficient (6,13,17,18). Thus, the associations of these hormones levels with abnormal pregnancy remain undefined, some theories are controversial (6,13,17,18), and further studies are needed.…”

“…However, evidence from randomised controlled trials to assess the use of estrogen and/or progesterone for preventing miscarriages is insufficient (6,13,17,18). Thus, the associations of these hormones levels with abnormal pregnancy remain undefined, some theories are controversial (6,13,17,18), and further studies are needed. In this report, the associations of hCG, estrogen, and progesterone levels with threatened abortion were evaluated in 80 women with threatened abortion and 160 normal controls.…”

“…As a type with relatively good prognosis, threatened abortion is not studied enough. Commonly used estrogen and/ or progesterone supplements had not approved by randomised controlled trials (6,13,17,18) suggesting that our knowledge in this topic is insufficient. Our data showed that higher, not lower, hCG and/or estrogen levels associated with threatened abortion.…”

Sex Hormone Metabolism and Threatened Abortion

“…A previous meta-analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the incidence of subsequent miscarriage in women with threatened abortion who were treated with or without hCG [ 13 ]. Studies have also suggested that using a combination of progesterone and estrogen to treat threatened abortion may yield better clinical results, but there is currently no consensus on this issue [ 14 ].…”