Home / Health / New Study: STI Screening Cuts Preterm Birth Risk
New Study: STI Screening Cuts Preterm Birth Risk
4 Nov
Summary
- Twice during pregnancy screening for STIs reduced preterm birth risk by 23%.
- Most infections found in pregnant women were asymptomatic.
- Screening only once did not significantly lower preterm birth odds.
Screening pregnant women for common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) twice during pregnancy has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of preterm birth. A recent clinical trial reported a 23% decrease in preterm births among women who underwent this enhanced screening process.
The study, which focused on chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomoniasis, found that approximately 27% of women screened at their first prenatal visit tested positive for at least one STI. Crucially, in 80% of these cases, the infections were asymptomatic, underscoring the limitations of relying on symptom detection alone.
While screening once during pregnancy did not yield a significant reduction in preterm births, testing twice—once at the initial visit and again between 30 and 34 weeks of gestation—was associated with a lower incidence of preterm birth compared to standard care. However, this dual screening did not show a significant combined reduction in both preterm births and low birth weight.
Researchers emphasize that while these findings provide an important signal, further investigation is needed to determine the optimal screening frequency and identify patient groups most likely to benefit. The study was conducted at four government health clinics in South Africa.
