Abstract
The causes of preterm labor and delivery have multiple antecedents and contributing factors. Spontaneous preterm labor with intact fetal membranes more commonly occurs in association with multifetal pregnancy, intrauterine infection, cervical insufficiency, hydramnios, and uterine abnormality. Also, the degree of uterine stretch in cases of multifetal pregnancy, hydramnios, or uterine abnormality affects the course of preterm labor. The risk of preterm labor is known to be increased by several maternal infections (e.g., urinary tract infection) as well as appendicitis and periodontal disease. Maternal infections other than intrauterine infection may cause endotoxin-induced uterine attack leading to preterm labor. Other contributing factors that affect the frequency of preterm labor are several genetic factors, environmental factors, the interval between pregnancies, and prior preterm birth. The latter is one of the most important risk factors for preterm labor: The recurrent risk of preterm delivery is threefold greater for women with a previous preterm delivery than for women whose first delivery was at term. Also, the maternal lifestyle factor of insufficient as well as excessive maternal weight gain increases the risk. This chapter introduces these multiple mechanisms of preterm labor and delivery, with the exception of intrauterine infection.
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Doi, K. (2020). Multiple Mechanisms of Preterm Labor Other Than Intrauterine Infection. In: Sameshima, H. (eds) Preterm Labor and Delivery. Comprehensive Gynecology and Obstetrics. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9875-9_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9875-9_8
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