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Preterm labor

Last reviewed: 9 Apr 2025
Last updated: 19 Mar 2025

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • history of preterm labor, cervical trauma, or induced abortion
  • multifetal pregnancy and presence of maternal infection
  • uterine contractions
  • preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM)
  • advanced cervical dilation
  • cervical length <2 cm
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • increased maternal or fetal heart rate
  • nonspecific lower abdominal or back pain
  • fever
  • vaginal bleeding
Full details

Risk factors

  • previous preterm labor
  • previous cervical trauma
  • previous induced abortion
  • maternal infections
  • multifetal pregnancies
  • short cervical length
  • positive fetal fibronectin test
  • preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM)
  • fetal abnormalities
  • smoking
  • body mass index (BMI) <19 kg/m²
  • social factors and ethnicity
  • fertility treatment
  • polyhydramnios
  • domestic violence
  • poor dental hygiene
  • late-stage cesarean section
Full details

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • nonstress cardiotocogram
  • tocography
  • transvaginal ultrasound of the cervix
  • cervico-vaginal swab for fetal fibronectin
  • CBC
  • CRP
  • urine dipstick
  • urine microscopy, culture, and sensitivity
  • high vaginal/rectal culture
Full details

Investigations to consider

  • microscopy of vaginal fluid
  • Kleihauer blood test
  • urine toxicology screen
  • insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) test
  • placental alpha microglobulin-1 (PAMG-1)
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

threatened preterm labor (TPTL)

preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM)

high risk of imminent delivery without PPROM

Contributors

Authors

Andrew H. Shennan, MD, FRCOG

Professor of Obstetrics

King's College London

London

UK

Disclosures

AHS has given talks for Hologic, the manufacturer of fetal fibronectin, and has received funds to his institute for research. AHS is an author of several references cited in this topic.

Joanna C. Girling, MA, MRCP, FRCOG

Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

West Middlesex University Hospital

London

UK

Disclosures

JCG declares that she has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Jo Trinder, MD

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

St Michael's Maternity Wing

Bristol Royal Infirmary

Bristol

UK

Disclosures

JT has accepted honoraria for speaking to groups of midwives and doctors about miscarriage management.

Kirsty Dundas, MBChB, DCH, FRCOG

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

Honorary Senior Lecturer

University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh

UK

Disclosures

KD declares that she has no competing interests.

Deidre Lyell, MD

Assistant Professor of Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Stanford University

Stanford

CA

Disclosures

DL declares that she has no competing interests.

References

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Key articles

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Preterm labour and birth. Jun 2022 [internet publication].Full text

Shennan AH, Story L, Royal College of Obstetricians, Gynaecologists. Cervical cerclage: green-top guideline no. 75. BJOG. 2022 Jun;129(7):1178-210.Full text  Abstract

EPPPIC Group. Evaluating Progestogens for Preventing Preterm birth International Collaborative (EPPPIC): meta-analysis of individual participant data from randomised controlled trials. Lancet. 2021 Mar 27;397(10280):1183-94.Full text  Abstract

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Care of women presenting with suspected preterm prelabour rupture of membranes from 24+0 weeks of gestation. Green-top guideline no. 73. Jun 2019 [internet publication].Full text

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Committee on Committee Opinion-Obstetrics. ACOG committee opinion no. 713: antenatal corticosteroid therapy for fetal maturation. Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Aug;130(2):e102-9.Full text  Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
  • Differentials

    • Placental abruption
    • Urinary tract infection (UTI)
    • Ovarian cyst
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Guideline no. 430: diagnosis and management of preterm prelabour rupture of membranes
    • Practice bulletin no. 231: multifetal gestations twin, triplet, and higher-order multifetal pregnancies
    More Guidelines
  • Patient information

    Premature labor

    More Patient information
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