The effect of vaginal progesterone on the vaginal biocenosis in pregnant women with a high risk of preterm birth

Artymuk N.V., Marochko K.V., Parfenova Ya.A.

Kemerovo State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, Kemerovo, Russia
Objective: To evaluate the effect of the vaginal use of progesterone on vaginal biocenosis in pregnant women with a high risk of preterm birth.
Materials and methods: Cochrane, MEDLINE, Pubmed databases were assessed. Such keywords as progesterone, vaginal biocenosis, vaginal discharge were used for the search. The search depth was 12 years (2010–2022). A total of 69 sources were identified, 49 of them met the search criteria.
Results: The analysis of bibliographic sources showed that preterm birth remains one of the most relevant issues in modern obstetrics all over the world. In 184 countries, preterm birth rate ranges from 5% to 18% of the number of children. In Russia, more than 70,000 children are born prematurely every year. Etiology of preterm birth includes a lot of factors. About 80% of preterm birth are associated with infection of the amniotic fluid before 30 weeks gestation. The source of infection can be an inflammatory process in the uterine cavity, vagina, the presence of bacterial vaginosis. Vaginal biocenosis is one of the main components of a woman's reproductive health, and therefore the question of the effect of hormone therapy on the vaginal microbial landscape is of practical interest. This is especially important in preterm birth prevention, since vaginal progesterone is recommended for preterm birth prophylaxis in the high-risk group of patients (shortening the length of the cervix, history of preterm birth). However, the studies assessing the influence of progestins on the microbiocenosis of the vagina, are limited. It is important to continue research in this direction.
Conclusion: It is necessary to carry out further in-depth studies on the effect of progesterone on the vaginal biocenosis in pregnant women.

Authors’ contributions: Artymuk N.V. – developing the concept and design of the study, writing the text, editing; Marochko K.V. – collecting the material, writing the text; Parfenova Ya.A. – collecting the material, writing the text.
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no possible conflicts of interest.
Funding: The study was conducted without sponsorship.
For citation: Artymuk N.V., Marochko K.V., Parfenova Ya.A. The effect of vaginal progesterone on the vaginal biocenosis in pregnant women with a high risk of preterm birth.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2023; (8): 186-191 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2023.187

Keywords

preterm birth
vaginal progesterone
vaginal microbiocenosis
bacterial vaginosis

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Received 08.08.2023

Accepted 20.08.2023

About the Authors

Natalya V. Artymuk, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Head of the G.A. Ushakova Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kemerovo State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, +7(960)923-33-55, artymuk@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7014-6492, 22a Voroshilova str., Kemerovo, 650056, Russia.
Kristina V. Marochko, PhD, Associate Professor at the G.A. Ushakova Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kemerovo State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, +7(923)612-48-92, marochkokv@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2832-6638, 22a Voroshilova str., Kemerovo, 650056, Russia.
Yana A. Parfenova, postgraduate student of the G.A. Ushakova Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kemerovo State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, +7(904)579-15-08, yanachka_titova@list.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2378-9078, 22a Voroshilova str., Kemerovo, 650056, Russia.
Corresponding author: Natalya V. Artymuk, artymuk@gmail.com

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