Vanteres Pte Ltd.

The prediction of preterm birth is beneficial because it initiates early treatment to minimize risk. It defines a population at risk to provide particular treatment and may lead us to a better understanding the mechanisms of preterm birth. The understanding of the mechanisms and etiology consequently leads to the possibility of early intervention and effective management aiming at preventing preterm birth. Five most common interventions for preventing and treating preterm birth are antibiotics, cervical cerclage, bed rest, progesterone, and tocolytic therapy. However, there are insufficient evidence showing the efficacy of cerclage and bed rest; antibiotics may only delay but not prevent the preterm birth; the use of certain tocolytics needs to be considered against the possible adverse effects. The early detection of pregnant women with high risk for preterm delivery would be the ideal solution to prevent preterm birth. However, to date, there is inadequate literature and little knowledge of diagnosis, treatment, prevention and prediction of preterm birth.