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Estrogen Balance May Aid in Preterm Births Prevention, Study suggests According to a new study, the relationship between two different types of estrogen and a hormone produced in the placenta might serve as the means for signaling labor. The study might help doctors in preventing and interfering preterm birth in much effective way.

The lead author of the study and physician at John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, Australia, Dr. Roger Smith said that the activation point of labor pain had been a puzzle from a long time. These findings gave them an answer and furthermore might be able to delay or advance labor.

Humans have two types of estrogen, estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3), and the balance of both the estrogens do not result any labor pain. During the study, the ratio of E3 and E2 was estimated in 500 pregnant women and it was revealed that the ratio went up speedily as labor approached indicating that E3 could stimulate the beginning of labor.

Dr. Smith and his colleagues studied the causes of E3 increase. In their early studies they had founded that corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), a hormone present in the placenta, rose rapidly through pregnancy period, touching the highest level during labor. CRH level rises early in case of those women, who have premature delivery while late in those females, who have delayed deliveries, forming a biological clock that regulates the length of pregnancy.

From The Daily News:

The relationship between two different types of estrogen and a hormone produced in the placenta may serve as the mechanism for signaling labor, according to a new study. This finding may help doctors intervene and prevent preterm birth much more effectively.

“The trigger for the onset of labor in women has been a puzzle for a long time,” says Dr. Roger Smith, MD, PhD, of John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, Australia and lead author of the study. “Our findings show we may have an answer, and furthermore may be able to delay or advance labor.”

Humans have two types of estrogen called estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3). When E2 and E3 are in roughly equal amounts there is no drive to labor, but the opposite holds true once one becomes in greater excess than the other. This study evaluated the ratio of E3 to E2 in 500 pregnant women and found that it went up rapidly as labor approached indicating that E3 could stimulate the onset of labor.

Dr. Smith and his colleagues then sought to understand what was causing the increase in E3 and they believe they found an answer. In a previous study they showed that a hormone in the placenta, called corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), rises rapidly through pregnancy, peaking at the time of labor. levels rise earlier in women who deliver prematurely and later in women who deliver late, forming a biological clock that regulates the length of pregnancy.

Researchers also reported that CRH could act on the foetus’ adrenal glands to stimulate the production of a steroid hormone, which placenta uses to build E3. The finding also showed a strong relationship formation between the CRH level in the mother’s blood in weeks prior to birth and levels of estriol. The relationship establishment supports the fact that CRH increases E3.

Dr. Smith said, “If this progression is correct, it may explain why women with a baby who dies in utero can still go into labor. In this scenario, levels of E3 would drop making E2 more dominant and triggering the onset of labor.” “It may be possible to delay or advance labor by varying the ratio of E3 to E2 by giving either E2 or E3 to the pregnant woman,” added Dr. Smith.

However, Dr. Smith noted that this was the first study to showsuch kind of results yet confirmation through further research was needed.

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