Pharmafile Logo

Moving Beyond the 10%: A New Era in Preterm Birth Prevention

July 1, 2026 | #HearFromHer #PretermBirth 

For decades, the rate of spontaneous preterm birth in the United States has hovered stubbornly around 10%. Despite advancements in other areas of medicine, prematurity remains the second leading cause of death for neonates, carrying a heavy toll of lifelong health complications, developmental disabilities, and a staggering $25 billion annual cost to the healthcare system.

- PMLiVE

Listen to the full episode here.

As discussed in the latest Hear From Her podcast, the challenge has always been prediction. “Prior to this, we had very few tools to help predict who is at risk,” explains Dr. Mollie McDonnold, a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist. Traditionally, doctors relied on a patient’s history of previous preterm births, but the majority of cases occur in women with no prior history.

The Biomarker Breakthrough

The conversation highlights a shift toward personalized medicine through the use of biomarkers. By analyzing proteins from the placenta via a simple blood draw early in pregnancy, clinicians can now identify high-risk patients with much greater sensitivity than traditional methods.
Listen to the full episode here.

The Power of the “Bundle”

Identification is only half the battle; prevention is the goal. Zhenya Lindgardt, CEO of Sera Prognostics, shares results from the “Prime Study,” which utilized a protocol designed with the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. When high-risk women were treated with a “preventive bundle”—consisting of low-dose aspirin, vaginal progesterone, and weekly nurse check-ins—the results were “spectacular”:  

  • A 20% reduction in severe neonatal morbidity.  
  • A 52% reduction in births before 32 weeks.  
  • One out of five babies avoided the NICU entirely.

Listen to the full episode here.

 A Tailored Future

The future of maternal health lies in moving away from a “one size fits all” approach. By stratifying care, healthcare providers can funnel intensive resources—like cervical length monitoring and specialized nurse support—to those who need it most, while providing peace of mind to those at low risk. As Lindgardt notes, the goal is to ensure every pregnancy receives the specific level of care it requires to thrive.

Listen to the full episode here.

This content was provided by Medscape Education

Company Details

 Latest Content from  Medscape Education 

AI, Agility, and Connected Impact at Alliance 2026

Join the Medscape team in Atlanta, February 16–19, 2026, as Alliance celebrates 50 years of excellence in continuing education for health professionals. We’re bringing our 3 decades of experience in...

Why Sleep Health is the Missing Link in Women’s Wellness

While obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects approximately 32% of US adults—nearly 80 million people—it remains an "epidemic hiding in plain sight". Perhaps most staggering is that 90% of women with...

The Heart and Mouth Connection Every Woman Needs to Know

For decades, modern medicine has treated the mouth and the body as separate entities. But for Dr. Nieca Goldberg, a renowned cardiologist, and Dr. Maria Ryan, Chief Clinical Officer at...

Uncovering Inequities in Alzheimer’s Disease Screening and Care

  On December 5, MAPS hosted an educational webinar exploring recent research in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) screening, testing, and treatment. Experts from Komodo Health and Medscape shared findings from their...

Where Are We Today With Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Rare Disease Diagnosis and Care?

Discover how AI-powered tools are transforming rare disease diagnosis, patient care, and clinical decision-making.

Does Rare Disease Education Work?

For a child with a rare disease, a doctor’s continuing education can end a years-long diagnostic odyssey and unlock access to vital care.

From Genetic Puzzles to Precision Therapeutics

How was a new rare disease discovered through Singapore’s Undiagnosed Disease Program? And how will technology allow us to change how we discover rare diseases in the future? Read more...

Medscape and the GNNRD: Empowering Nurses With a Rare Disease Education Series

Nurses play a vital and multifaceted role in rare disease care, providing consistent patient support, education, and care coordination, and ongoing education is essential to empower them to meet the...

What Is the RDI-Lancet Commission for Rare Disease and What Will It Achieve?

Christy Rohani-Montez, Medscape’s Rare Disease Education Lead recently spoke with Dr Lucy McKay, CEO, and Megan Pullein, Strategic Operations Officer from the UK-based charity Medics for Rare Disease (MfRD). We...

“CGM Sweet Talk With the Sugar Queens” Takes Silver at the 2025 Digital Health Awards

Medscape Education’s dynamic educational series, CGM Sweet Talk With the Sugar Queens, has earned a Silver Award in the Video Series (Digital Health Media / Publications) category at the 2025...