This is the conclusion of a new study in Florida

Vaginal progesterone should be offered as an option to women with a short cervix and a history of preterm birth.

This is the conclusion of a new study, led by Luis Sanchez-Ramos, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL.

Preterm birth – a global problem

Preterm birth continues to be a global obstetrical problem. 
Two important risk factors that significantly increase the risk of preterm birth are a history of preterm birth and a short cervical length noted in the midtrimester of pregnancy, notes the author. The emphasis of the research is on decreasing the preterm birth rate in asymptomatic women with known risk factors.

What are methods used up to now

Randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews have shown that either vaginal progesterone administration or the placement of a cervical cerclage reduce preterm births and improve perinatal outcomes.  So the author has tried to find an answer of the question - which strategy is preferable? 

You can read the whole article in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.