Risk of preterm delivery in relation to vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy

Hossain, Rydhwana; Harris, Tenecia; Lohsoonthorn, Vitool; Williams, Michelle A.

doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2006.12.003

« Previous Next »European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Volume 135, Issue 2 , Pages 158-163, December 2007

Risk of preterm delivery in relation to vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy

Rydhwana Hossain
- Department of Epidemiology, Multidisciplinary International Research Training Program, University of Washington, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work.
Tenecia Harris
- Department of Epidemiology, Multidisciplinary International Research Training Program, University of Washington, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work.
Vitool Lohsoonthorn
- Department of Epidemiology, Multidisciplinary International Research Training Program, University of Washington, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Corresponding author at: MIRT Program, Department of Epidemiology (Box 357236), University of Washington (HSB F-263), 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Tel.: +1 206 543 7559; fax: +1 206 543 8525.
Michelle A. Williams
- Department of Epidemiology, Multidisciplinary International Research Training Program, University of Washington, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Center for Perinatal Studies, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA

Received 14 September 2006; received in revised form 14 November 2006; accepted 1 December 2006. published online 27 December 2006.

Abstract

Objective

To examine the relationship between vaginal bleeding during early pregnancy and preterm delivery.

Methods

Study subjects (N=2678) provided information regarding socio-demographic, biomedical, and lifestyle characteristics. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

Results

Any vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy was associated with a 1.57-fold increased risk of preterm delivery (95% CI: 1.16–2.11). Vaginal bleeding was most strongly related with spontaneous preterm labor (OR=2.10) and weakly associated with preterm premature rupture of membrane (OR=1.36) and medically induced preterm delivery (OR=1.32). As compared to women with no bleeding, those who bled during the first and second trimesters had a 6.24-fold increased risk of spontaneous preterm labor; and 2–3-fold increased risk of medically induced preterm delivery and preterm premature rupture of membrane, respectively.