Premature birth gel not good for twins

Published on Thursday 11 June 2009 10:14

A TREATMENT which prevents premature births may not be effective in women expecting twins, a study has found.

Researchers at Edinburgh University conducted a trial involving 500 women to see if a gel which protects the lining of the womb made an impact in women expecting a multiple birth.

Half were given the gel, while the others were given a dummy version, but there was found to be no difference.

The university said the study would help scientists understand further why multiple births were more likely to result in early delivery, and also open more doors to remedy the problem.

Professor Jane Norman, director of the Tommy's Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health Research at the university, said: "While the study looked at twins, it suggests that the biological process of premature births in women with multiple births is different for that than in women expecting one child.

"Understanding the differences between what happens in premature births in single and multiple pregnancies can help us improve treatments."