HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Preterm Labor
What Increases Your Risk
A risk factor is anything that increases your chances of having a problem.
Risk factors related to your pregnancy
- Pregnancy with twins, triplets, or more.
- Infection in the urinary or reproductive tract, including the vagina.
- Reference Shortened cervix or Reference incompetent cervix Opens New Window.
Risk factors related to your medical history
- A past preterm delivery.
- Previous surgery on your
Reference cervix Opens New Window Reference
Opens New Window, such as a
Reference cone biopsy Opens New Window. Having a
Reference loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) Opens New Window also
raises preterm labor risk.Reference 2
Other risk factors
- Being younger than 18 years.
- Cigarette smoking during pregnancy.
- Use of cocaine or methamphetamine.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference May 10, 2012 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine
Reference William Gilbert, MD - Maternal and Fetal Medicine |
|
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