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Due to a low level of understanding of mechanisms involved in spontaneous preterm delivery there is a lack of reliable biomarkers. Existing biomarkers have a low positive predictive value but a high negative predictive value. Use of tests with high negative predictive value will reduce unnecessary interventions and hospitalization of women with threatening preterm delivery. When given to the right pregnant women, antenatal corticosteroid treatment are still the most important obstetrical intervention and reduces both neonatal mortality and short- and long-term morbidity.Several ongoing national Swedish multicenter studies may increase the understanding of the roles of cervical length, preeclampsia screening and magnesium sulfate dosage in the context of preterm delivery in a Nordic setting. Major development has been achieved in prediction and prevention of preterm preeclampsia at the cost of a 10% screen positive rate.

Objective To estimate the risk for stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse surgery related to vaginal birth or cesarean delivery. Study Design A cohort study of all women having their first and all subsequent deliveries by cesarean (n = 33,167), and an age-matched sample of women only having vaginal deliveries (n = 63,229) between 1973 and 1983. Hazard ratios were calculated using Cox regression models with 95% confidence intervals. Results Women only having vaginal deliveries had increased overall risks of incontinence (hazard ratio, 2.9; 95% confidence interval, 2.4–3.6) and prolapse surgery (hazard ratio, 9.2; 95% confidence interval, 7.0–12.1) compared with women only having cesarean deliveries. Conclusion Having only vaginal childbirths was associated with a significantly increased risk of stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse surgery later in life compared with only having cesarean deliveries.