Browse Complications of Pregnancy Articles by Topic

Abortion for Fetal Anomalies: Trends in Gestational Age

In this retrospective cohort study, the median gestational age at the time of abortion for fetal aneuploidy decreased from 19 weeks in 2004 to 14 weeks in 2014. However, the gestational age at the time of abortion for fetal structural abnormalities remained at ≥ 20 weeks over the study period.

Embryo Implantation

A recent study tracking embryos after embryo transfer has provided insight into why embryos have a greater tendency to ultimately implant in the lower uterine segment, thereby predisposing patients to a greater risk of placental complications.

Glucose Screening: The Meaning of a Single Abnormal Value in a 3-hour Glucose Tolerance Test

A recent 25-study meta-analysis has shown that patients having only one elevation in a three-hour glucose tolerance test have similar maternal and fetal outcomes as patients diagnosed to have bona fide gestational diabetes.

Treatment and Prevention of Preeclampsia

A recent study suggested that sildenafil could temporarily stabilize patients with preeclampsia, while improving blood flow to and from the placenta.

Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes: When to Deliver?

A recent large multicenter, randomized clinical trial has shown that delivering patients with premature preterm rupture of membranes at 34 weeks, rather than pursuing a watchful waiting approach until 37 weeks, does not afford greater protection against neonatal sepsis.

Pessaries in Patients with Short Cervices

The largest multicenter, randomized, controlled trial so far has found no significant benefit of pessaries to prevent preterm birth or to decrease neonatal morbidity in patients with short cervices.

Low-dose Aspirin and Preeclampsia

A study comparing outcomes before and after offering low-dose aspirin to patients who were deemed to be high risk by a first trimester protocol showed a decrease in preterm birth prior to 34 weeks and a decrease in early-onset preeclampsia.

Recurrence Rate for Placental Abruption

A study from the Netherlands involving more than 1 million patients has shown that recurrence of placental abruption happens more frequently in those patients whose first abruption occurred at term and/or in their first pregnancy, as well as in those with a history of hypertension.

Are We on the Threshold of a New Approach to Evaluating Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss?

A small retrospective cohort study raises the possibility that advanced genetic techniques can be used to analyze the products of conception in women with recurrent pregnancy loss to identify those most likely to have treatable reasons for their miscarriages.

Progesterone and Indomethacin and PTL

One recent study has questioned the efficacy of the ability of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate to prevent preterm birth, and the other suggests that indomethacin, used to stop preterm labor, may have unwanted neonatal consequences.