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fFN
Formal name: Fetal fibronectin
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Common Questions
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1. What are the risk factors for preterm labor and delivery?
2. Why not test after 34 weeks?
3. Why not test asymptomatic women who are at risk?
4. Can preterm labor and delivery be prevented?
5. What other tests are used to help determine the risk of preterm delivery?
1. What are the risk factors for preterm labor and delivery?
Risk factors include:
- A previous preterm delivery,
- Maternal age of less than 18 or more than 40 years of age
- Race, non-Caucasians are at a higher risk
- Low or excessive pregnancy weight gain
- Previous history of second-trimester fetal loss
- Uterine abnormalities
- Infection
- Smoking
- Illicit drug use
2. Why not test after 34 weeks?
Because fFN levels normally rise as fullterm delivery nears and because a baby born after 34 –35 weeks of gestation is less likely to suffer premature complications, testing this late in pregnancy is not generally recommended.
3. Why not test asymptomatic women who are at risk?
So far, this has not proved to be clinically useful.
4. Can preterm labor and delivery be prevented?
Generally no, but the use of tocolytic agents, given to inhibit uterine contractions, may delay delivery. In the meantime, corticosteroids can be given to help the fetal lungs mature and prevent neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, and time is gained to transfer the woman to a tertiary treatment center.
5. What other tests are used to help determine the risk of preterm delivery?
Other tests include measurement of cervical dilatation as determined by transvaginal ultrasonography and testing for bacterial vaginosis.
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This article was last reviewed on
April 14, 2007.
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