Exploring Progesterone Deficiency in First-Trimester Miscarriage and the Impact of Hormone Therapy on Foetal Development: A Scoping Review

Background and Objectives: Progesterone deficiency during pregnancy may lead to various complications, including first-trimester miscarriage, which is the most common pregnancy complication. However, progesterone therapy may play a role in pregnancy maintenance and foetal development. The aim of this scoping review is to present evidence on the link between progesterone deficiency and first-trimester miscarriage among pregnant women and assess the impact of progesterone therapy on foetal development. Methods: A comprehensive global systematic search of mainly primary research studies was conducted using several databases. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2010 and 2023 were included. The scoping review was conducted using the framework outlined by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) statement. Results: Twenty-three articles (which included 35,862 participants) were included in the analysis. Most studies were conducted in mid- to high-income countries. All 23 articles reported a significant positive relationship between progesterone deficiency and first-trimester miscarriage. Furthermore, the majority of studies reported a higher risk of miscarriage when lower levels of progesterone are combined with other declined hormones. While most studies reported that progesterone therapy may reduce the rate of first-trimester miscarriage among pregnant women, no evidence of health-related harm to offspring development was reported. Conclusions: The findings from this systematic-scoping review indicate possible benefits of progesterone replacement therapy in maintaining a healthy pregnancy and foetal development. Rigorous studies that include large sample sizes and systematic reviews are required to confirm these findings further.

Reproductive health of adolescents in Russia: statistics, problems and prospects of improvement

At the beginning of the 21st century we still face the problem of reproductive health of women, children and adolescents in Russia. Final overcoming of the "Russian Cross" primarily relates to preventing further decline of women in reproductive age and children aged 0-17 years.The following medico-social determinants of women's reproductive health are considered: family prosperity, somatic growth and sexual maturation, chronic extragenital diseases, sexual and reproductive behavior, environmental wellbeing of territory and gynecological care organization. Analysis of gynecological morbidity of Russian girls and adolescents at the beginning of this century spots an upward trend. The results of our anonymous questionnaire survey of socially adapted students among 3327 girls of 13-19 years testify that 59.9% of respondents in this age cohort do not practice daily genitalia toilet. According to our population-based studies, 24.0% of women have first pregnancy at the juvenile age followed by labor in 18.4% of young women, abortion in 81.6%. Menstrual disorders represent the most common symptoms and strong indications of reproductive health problems related, inter alia, to progesterone deficiency which can lead to serious consequences (infertility, miscarriage, breast disease). The choice of medication for the menstrual disorders treatment should consider instruction indications, the lack of limitations and contraindications, need for contraception, concomitant diseases and states, proved efficacy of the medication. Prospects of solving reproductive and demographic problems in the twenty-first century are largely beyond the control of clinicians being aggravated by unresolved environmental and social problems.