Comparison between The Effect of Progesterone and Calcium Channel blockers in Control of Threatened Preterm Labor

Background: If the cervix begins to dilate and efface before the 37th week of gestation, it is considered preterm labor. This condition is characterized by strong, frequent uterine contractions. The most effective method of preventing preterm labor may be the early identification of high-risk pregnancies. Aim and objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of progesterone vs calcium channel blockers in preventing premature labor in women who are at risk of this condition. Subjects and methods: One-hundred pregnant women with a singleton pregnancy, gestational age (GA) of 28–35 weeks, and at risk of preterm labor were included in this prospective randomized study, which was carried out at El-Maadi Military Hospital. The women were split into two groups: Group-A received calcium channel blocker, and Group-B received progesterone. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in age or body mass index between the groups that were studied. However, there was a highly significant difference in GA at delivery between the groups that were studied, with group A (calcium channel blockers) having a higher value than group B (progesterone). Additionally, there was a significant difference in NICU admission between the groups that were studied, with group B (progesterone) having a higher percentage of admission (40%) than group A (18%). Conclusion: In this study, calcium channel blockers were found to be more effective than progesterone in controlling Threatened Preterm Labor (TPL). This is due to the fact that calcium channel blockers suppress early uterine contractions and lengthen GAs, which in turn reduces preterm births, increases the Apgar score, and decreases the likelihood of NICU hospitalizations.