Morgan, J., Hackett, W. R., & Hunt, T. (1960). The place of progesterone in the treatment of abortion. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Empire, 67, 323-324. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1960.tb07005.x
Morgan J, Hackett WR, Hunt T. The place of progesterone in the treatment of abortion. J Obstet Gynaecol Br Emp. 1960;67:323-324. doi:10.1111/j.1471-0528.1960.tb07005.x
Morgan, Joyce, et al. "The place of progesterone in the treatment of abortion." The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Empire, vol. 67, 1960, pp. 323-324.
Progesterone May Lower Miscarriage Risk In Low-Hormone Pregnancies
This 1960 cohort study followed women with repeat or threatened miscarriage. Doctors tested a urine hormone marker called pregnanediol. Among women with low levels, those treated with progesterone were linked to far fewer miscarriages than women who went untreated.
Key Findings
Untreated women with low pregnanediol had a 60% miscarriage rate (24 of 40) and a 12% rate of stillbirth or newborn death, a combined loss near 72%.
Women with low pregnanediol who were treated with progesterone had a 3% miscarriage rate (3 of 100) and a 10% rate of stillbirth or newborn death.
In the treated group, 18 of the 100 women had early labor, and 10 had toxemia of pregnancy.
Interpretation
This cohort study followed women with repeat or threatened miscarriage and low pregnanediol at one hospital. The authors note the untreated comparison group of 40 women was too small for a solid comparison. The findings support larger studies of progesterone treatment for repeat pregnancy loss.
RRM Context
The idea behind this study is not new to RRM. NaProTechnology continues that approach today, pairing cycle charting with hormone testing to target progesterone support for repeat pregnancy loss. This 1960 study is an early example of that same idea.
Our editorial summary of this paper, not the article's abstract.
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