Learn about treatment with progesterone shots. Dr. Siobhan Dolan talks about progesterone shots (also called 17p) that may help prevent premature birth in women who’ve had a premature birth in the past.
Progesterone is a hormone. Hormones are chemicals made by the body. Progesterone plays a key role during pregnancy. In early pregnancy, it helps your uterus (womb) grow and keeps it from having contractions. If you have contractions in early pregnancy, it may lead to miscarriage. This is the death of a baby in the womb before 20 weeks of pregnancy. In later pregnancy, progesterone helps your breasts get ready to make breast milk. It also helps your lungs work harder to give oxygen to your growing baby.
Premature birth is birth that happens too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Premature babies may need to stay in the hospital longer or may have more health problems than babies born full term. Full term means your baby is born between 39 weeks and 40 weeks, 6 days of pregnancy.
Progesterone may help prevent premature birth for some women. Talk to your provider to see if progesterone treatment may help reduce your risk of having your baby early.
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